N.J. Judge Defers 2 Cases Scheduled for Multi-Plaintiff Vioxx Trial

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A New Jersey judge has reduced from four to two the number of cases to be tried in the state's next Vioxx trial, which is scheduled to begin with opening arguments on Jan. 22. Humeston v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. ATL-L-2272-03; Hermans v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. ATL-L-5520-05 (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

Judge Carol E. Higbee of the Atlantic County Superior Court had originally considered trying as many as eight Vioxx cases together in a multi-phase trial, but objections by Merck & Co. Inc. succeeded in reducing that number to four.

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