Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12310

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Challenge Filed to Merck's Vioxx Settlement
Therapeutics Daily 2008 Jan 5
http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contentValue=1669697&contentType=sentryarticle&channelID=33

Abstract:

Lawyers for hundreds of people who sued Merck & Co. over its withdrawn painkiller Vioxx are challenging a key provision of a proposed $4.85 billion (?3.29 billion) settlement that requires lawyers to advise all or none of their clients to accept the deal.

Plaintiffs lawyers who negotiated the settlement said Friday they expect the challenge will be withdrawn, as a similar one filed last month was.

In court papers filed Thursday, lawyers for about 2,600 plaintiffs asked a U.S. District Court judge in New Orleans to rule that portions of the settlement can’t be enforced in all states …