Merck Says Multi-Plaintiff Vioxx Trial Prejudicial, Moves to Strike Cases

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Merck & Co. Inc. has filed briefs in New Jersey state court opposing a proposed eight-plaintiff, multi-phase Vioxx trial scheduled for January 2007, saying the consolidated proceeding would be unfair, unmanageable and fails to legitimately advance the litigation. In Re: Vioxx Litigation, Case No. 619 (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

Merck also specifically moved to strike three plaintiffs from the proposed trial, arguing their cases either cannot be prepared by Jan. 16, or present unique statute of limitations issues warranting their exclusion.

The manufacturer on Oct. 20 filed a memorandum in support of its motion to …