Merck lost a bid to overturn last year's $8.73 million loss in a South Texas jury trial over its painkiller Vioxx.
Judge Alex Gabert in Rio Grande City, Texas, allowed a 75- day time limit for granting the company a new trial to expire without taking action, effectively denying the request, his clerk said today. Merck asked that the verdict be thrown out, saying a juror got interest-free loans before the trial from the widow who sued the company over her husband's death.
``The award stands,'' Gabert's clerk, Dalia Salinas, said by telephone. The 75-day limit expired March 5, she said.
The judge's inaction leaves in place the findings that Merck failed to warn doctors of Vioxx's risks and that the drug caused the fatal heart attack of Leonel Garza, 71, in 2001. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based company said it will appeal.
Bloomberg
1 comment:
This is why the so-call "victims" head to Texas; the judges are dumber than bricks down there, much like certain of their ex-Governors. This judge effectively said, "Hey-- bribing the jury-- no problem."
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