Merck Calls 'Futile' Vioxx Plaintiffs' Pursuit of Statewide Injury Classes

NEW ORLEANS - For the same reasons the judge overseeing the federal Vioxx MDL refused to certify a nationwide class of personal injury and wrongful death plaintiffs, plaintiffs' proposed statewide classes are also not certifiable, Merck & Co. Inc. has asserted in opposing a motion to amend the master class action complaint. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

The Feb. 16 opposition, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, specifically contends that plaintiffs' motion for leave to add a plaintiff class representative from Iowa 'would be futile and should not …