Next Vioxx Court Case About to Begin

By Dave Wilson

Published on January 23, 2006

Garza's family blames Merck for his death, which was caused by a fatal heart attack he suffered in 2001 while taking Vioxx. A research study published in 2004 revealed that Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients that had used the drug for at least eighteen months. This study led to Merck's recall of the once-popular painkiller.

Merck claims that Garza, who was 71 years old when he died, had a long history of heart disease before taking Vioxx. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical company says Garza began taking Vioxx just one month before his death.

The trial will take place in Rio Grande, a small town in Starr County, Texas, near the border with Mexico. The outcome of the trial may be important for the prospects of future Vioxx litigation. In the previous three trials, the plaintiff won the first, Merck won the second, and the third resulted in a hung jury.

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