June 28, 2006
This first California state Vioxx case is underway. This time Merck is defending itself against allegations that Vioxx caused 71-year-old Stewart Grossberg to suffer a heart attack. He and his attorney claim that Merck knew of the serious cardiovascular risks posed by Vioxx but failed to notify doctors and patients.
Mr. Grossberg started taking Vioxx in 1999 after seeing ads, which touted Vioxx’s ability to treat the pain of arthritis. He took the drug for 26 months until he suffered a heart attack at the age of 66. He required surgery to have a stent placed one of his arteries and medication to control his lipid levels.
Still uninformed about the risks of Vioxx, this man resumed taking Vioxx in 2003. In August 2004, after hearing that Vioxx posed serious heart attack and stroke risks, he stopped taking Vioxx. Three months later, he developed cardiovascular problems including chest pains. He required a second surgery for the implantation of another arterial heart stent.
This is the eighth Vioxx case in approximately 13,000 to reach trial. To date, Merck has won three cases and lost three. Two additional cases have not yet concluded. Merck still vows to fight every Vioxx case it faces. The company recently admitted that they incorrectly represented crucial data about Vioxx risks. Experts have found that the risk of heart attack and stroke is significantly increased in patients who took Vioxx for less than 18 months.
For more information on the Vioxx lawsuitl, please contact us to confer with a Vioxx Recall Lawyer and learn your legal rights and options.
