Released on = May 23, 2007, 10:00 am

Press Release Author = Lala C. Ballatan

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = bout 1000 personal injury lawsuits involving the infamous
pain medication called Vioxx are put on hold in Texas according to a judge ruling.
Meanwhile, another similar lawsuit is scheduled for trial on Oct. 1, 2007 in Mingo
County Circuit Court, West Virginia.

Press Release Body = About 1000 personal injury lawsuits involving the infamous pain
medication called Vioxx are put on hold in Texas according to a judge ruling.
Meanwhile, another similar lawsuit is scheduled for trial on Oct. 1, 2007 in Mingo
County Circuit Court, West Virginia.

Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2007 - Judge Randy Wilson in Texas granted a motion
given by the Vioxx manufacturer, Merck & Co Inc. to dismiss a certain section of
Ruby Ledbetter's personal injury lawsuit, which states that she was not properly
warned about Vioxx. Ledbetter, 62 years old, suffered a heart attack in 2004,
allegedly caused by Vioxx.

In their argument, Merck's lawyers stipulated that a certain Texas law in 2003
prevented Ledbetter from professing she was not properly warned about the drug.

According to this law, any drug manufacturer is not legally responsible for charges
of failure to provide adequate warnings about their product if such product or drug
came with approved warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Defense claims that Vioxx, a pain medication for those suffering arthritis have such
warnings. In September 2004, it was pulled off the U.S. drug market when research
turned out that taking Vioxx for more than 18 months could double the risk of heart
attack or stroke.

In West Virginia, a civil trial lawsuit asserts the death of Thomas Smith of Mingo
County on Vioxx, three years ago. Ronda Smith, the victim's wife represented by Mark
Lanier, brought the case to court. Lanier, a Houston lawyer, have already
represented a client in Texas with the same lawsuit awarded $253.5 million in
damages by a jury. According to Lanier, the trial set for October, as ruled, will be
the accountability trial.

Since 2005, investors and lawyers have kept a steady watch on the Vioxx lawsuits
since the $253.5 million in damages verdict. The Merck\'s legal team has already
appealed this decision, including $229 million in punitive damages.

All around the U.S., Merck faces 27,000 personal injury lawsuits. However, Kent
Jarrell spokesperson of Merck\'s legal team contends that the company was not at
fault.

According to him, 4,600 of the lawsuits they faced have already been dismissed even
before reaching trial. Furthermore, Jarrell noted that most juries favor the company
over the plaintiffs. There were two trials, though that ended with hung juries.

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