'Stonewalling' Discovery Warrants Plaintiffs' Dismissal, Merck Says

NEW ORLEANS - Merck & Co. Inc. has moved to dismiss several cases from the federal Vioxx MDL for plaintiffs' alleged violation of pretrial discovery requirements, saying the plaintiffs have 'stonewalled' discovery and encouraged other plaintiffs to similarly postpone the litigation. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

On Jan. 17, Merck filed a motion and memorandum asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to order 16 plaintiffs to appear and show cause why their claims should not be dismissed with prejudice for failure to provide any response to the Plaintiff Profile …