MDL Judge Rejects Plaintiffs' Pursuit of 2nd-Filed, State Vioxx Actions

NEW ORLEANS - The judge overseeing the federal Vioxx MDL has denied two motions by plaintiffs seeking to dismiss their MDL suits against Merck & Co. Inc. and proceed with similar, second-filed cases in state court. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied the motions on March 9 in a pair of written orders without giving specific reasons for the decision.

In the cases at issue, plaintiffs originally sued Merck in state court, seeking damages for personal injuries allegedly caused …