According to an article in the Austin American-Statesman, the first Vioxx trial to be held in federal court will be in Houston, rather than the originally planned venue of New Orleans.
The plaintiff is a 53-year-old manager of a wholesale seafood distributor in St. Augustine, Florida. He was found dead at his desk after taking Vioxx for only about one month.
Although the trial will be held in Texas, it will be governed by Florida law. Among other things, that may mean jurors cannot award punitive damages if the company loses, because such damages already were awarded in the first Vioxx trial.
