Merck Says No Reason for PSC Amicus Brief in Barnett Proceedings

NEW ORLEANS - Merck & Co. Inc. is contending that the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee has made no showing why it should be permitted to file an amicus brief in connection with Merck's motion for a new trial on all issues in a federal Vioxx MDL case that ended in a $51 million verdict. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

In an Oct. 31 opposition filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Merck states that the PSC's motion for an order allowing the committee to file an amicus brief 'is supported …