In a retrial of a case involving an Idaho postal worker’s heart attack, an Atlantic City, New Jersey jury ruled today that Vioxx did contribute to the death of the plaintiff. This reversed the verdict of the original trial, and the jury awarded the plaintiff $20 million in damages. The jury will now decide whether Merck should be forced to pay punitive damages in addition to the $20 million in actual damages.
This latest verdict brings the “score” to Merck 9, Plaintiffs 5 in Vioxx trials around the country.
