BBC: Vioxx class action claim refused

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 23:11 GMT

Vioxx class action claim refused

Thousands of personal injury lawsuits involving the painkiller Vioxx
cannot be pooled together into a class action, a US federal judge
has ruled.

Judge Eldon Fallon refused a request to combine 7,000 lawsuits
against drug firm Merck & Co, mainly because of the unique
circumstances of each case.

A mass of lawsuits targeted Merck after a study found Vioxx may
double the risk of heart attack or stroke.

-snip-

In his 25-page ruling US District Judge Fallon said the " difficulties
in class management overwhelm any efficiencies that could be
secured through classwide adjudication".

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6175114.stm

[TheWatcher]

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