Merck Says Calif. Court Must Restrict Remand to Ensure Consistency

LOS ANGELES - A recent trial selection order issued in California's coordinated Vioxx proceedings provides a sensible approach for repatriating cases to their counties of origin, so long as certain other measures to ensure fairness and efficiency are followed, Merck & Co. Inc. has asserted. Vioxx® Cases, JCCP No. 4247 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

In a May 25 brief responding to the Plaintiffs Executive Committee's proposal for a multi-plaintiff, multi-court system to expedite the resolution of California's more than 4,000 Vioxx cases, Merck says that the number of cases remanded to the state court system at one time …