Ill. Jury Finds for Merck in Widower's Vioxx Case

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - An Illinois state court jury has cleared Merck & Co. Inc. of liability in the Midwest's first Vioxx trial, rejecting a widower's claims that the company failed to adequately warn his wife's physician about the alleged dangers of Vioxx and that the now-withdrawn drug caused her fatal 2003 heart attack. Schwaller v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. 05-L-687 (Ill. 3rd Jud. Cir., Madison Cty.).

The 12-member jury reached the verdict March 27 after a four-week trial before Judge Daniel Stack of Illinois' 3rd Judicial Circuit for Madison County. The jury deliberated for approximately six hours over two …