VIOXX VERDICT ADDS PUNITIVE DAMAGES

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A New Jersey state jury first awarded $4.5M ($3 million to a man suffering a heart attack, and $1.5 million for his wife); and then added $9 Million in Punitive Damages. The jury found that Merck had knowingly witheld information about the risks of the drug, including heart attacks and strokes. In another significant legal setback against Merck,
a New Jersey Appeals Court ruled that a nationwide class action lawsuit can go forward that allows health insurers and others to sue to recover the billions of dollars they spent on Vioxx. Maybe Merck will finally set aside money for victims rather than reserving one half billion dollars for defense fees.