Judge Defers Vioxx Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand to Prospective MDL Judge

MIAMI - A federal judge has refused to remand a Vioxx suit after determining that the an MDL judge should decide the issue of jurisdiction in the case and several others that have been filed around the country alleging injury caused by ingestion of the drug. Fontanilles v. Merck & Co., Inc., No. 04-22799 (S.D. Fla.).

Judge Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued the ruling Dec. 14, in which he held that deciding the issue of jurisdiction prior to the establishment of an MDL docket would give certain plaintiffs an advantage …