Plaintiff Rests Case in Vioxx Trial

By Dave Wilson

Published on October 06, 2005

The lawsuit alleges that Frederick "Mike" Humeston suffered a heart attack in 2001 due to Vioxx use. Plaintiff lawyers called 14 witnesses over three weeks to testify on his behalf. Their case ended with excerpts from a videotaped deposition of Merck executives.

Throughout the trial, numerous medical expert witnesses have been called to the stand in an effort to demonstrate that Vioxx was a factor in triggering Humeston's heart attack. Various Merck scientists have been questioned regarding Vioxx risks and the decision to pull the painkiller from the market last fall. Humeston and his wife both testified about how the heart attack has affected his quality of life.

Merck has consistently maintained that Humeston's sedentary and stressful lifestyle, not Vioxx, was responsible for his heart attack. The defense will now be able to call its own witnesses to the stand. The outcome of this lawsuit is critical for Merck, as the pharmaceutical company has already lost one trial, and currently faces thousands of new cases.

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