Court to consider whether to allow Vioxx lawsuits

Class Action News

The Supreme Court will decide whether shareholders can sue pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. because of the failure of its former blockbuster painkiller Vioxx.


The high court agreed Tuesday to review Merck's challenge to a federal appeals court's reinstatement of a class-action securities lawsuit.

Investors had charged Merck with providing misleading information or omitting information about the risks of Vioxx. A U.S. District judge dismissed the November 2003 lawsuit, ruling that all the plaintiffs' claims were time-barred under the statute of limitation.

But the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided to allow the lawsuits and Merck appealed to the Supreme Court.

Vioxx was pulled from the market Sept. 30, 2004, because it doubled risks of heart attack, stroke and death. That day alone, stockholders lost a collective $28 billion.

Related listings

  • Class-action lawsuit over tobacco ads proceeds

    Class-action lawsuit over tobacco ads proceeds

    Class Action News 05/20/2009

    Consumers have the right to sue as a group over advertising they believe misled them into buying products, a divided state Supreme Court ruled Monday in reinstating a massive suit against the tobacco industry. The 4-3 decision rejected business argum...

  • Lawyers blame engineer in 2005 Metrolink train crash

    Lawyers blame engineer in 2005 Metrolink train crash

    Class Action News 02/05/2009

    Attorneys representing victims of a 2005 Metrolink train crash that killed 11 said this morning that they have uncovered new evidence that they believe shows the engineer was at fault for the accident. The crash –- the second-deadliest in Metrolink h...

  • Settlement limits insurers' claims in Vioxx deal

    Settlement limits insurers' claims in Vioxx deal

    Class Action News 01/23/2009

    Former Vioxx users getting part of a $4.85 billion settlement ending most personal injury suits over the withdrawn painkiller will get a bigger piece of the pie, thanks to an unusual settlement Thursday with their health insurers. Insurers who paid m...

New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC

Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read