Consumer Safety Law Firms Comment On Vioxx Settlement

Vioxx Settlement: Consumer Safety Law Firms Across U.S. Comment

Pro or Con? Plaintiff attorneys across the U.S. comment on the Merck Vioxx Settlement offer and the outcome for patients.
(PRWEB) November 10, 2007 -- After previously stating intentions to fight litigation on a case-by-case basis, Merck & Co agreed to pay $4.85 billion to settle claims that its painkiller Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes. The popular drug was pulled from the market three years ago, and following the recall, suits were filed on behalf of 47,000 claimants across the country.

Today's announcement prompted immediate reaction among consumer safety attorneys. Law firm web consultants Consultwebs, Inc., represent numerous lawyers and firms who have clients involved in the case and who were eager to comment on the settlement.

"Great news," exclaims Attorney Carlos Diez-Arguelles of Martinez, Manglardi, Diez-Arguelles & Tejedor of Orlando, Florida. "So many people were affected by this case that we're thrilled to see Merck taking steps toward compensation."

"This case once again reinforces the role that plaintiffs' lawyers play in safeguarding the American public," says Attorney J. Christopher Munley of Pennsylvania law firm Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. "The pharmaceutical industry has steadfastly denied that they had any possible life-threatening problems with their products but once again lawyers pierced the cloak of dishonesty to reveal the truth."

Robert K. Jenner, Partner, Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC in Baltimore, Maryland commented on the message sent by the settlement. "We are extremely pleased that our hard work uncovering the truth of the dangers of Vioxx resulted in a just result for our clients. The message to all drug makers is clear: you can't make drugs without testing them and warning about their dangers."

"Merck is heading in the right direction," says Attorney Ron Brown of Brown & Crouppen in St. Louis, Missouri. "However, there are literally tens of thousands of plaintiffs involved, so it remains to be seen whether this settlement really provides the compensation people need."

Other lawyers were more guarded about the news, including Attorney Kenneth L. Hardison of North Carolina law firm Hardison & Associates. "While the Merck settlement is a positive step, we must not overlook those plaintiffs who suffered the most. As we discuss settlement details with our clients, we want to be sure that people who experienced truly catastrophic injuries -- in some cases death -- are not denied their day in court."

Joseph L. Belluck, Partner at Belluck & Fox, LLP in New York, New York was also cautious about rushing to judge the impact of Merck's announcement. "Merck has not yet released settlement details to all plaintiff attorneys, so it's still early to evaluate whether this provides adequate resolution. However, Belluck & Fox remains committed to pursuing our client claims -- and we certainly hope that Merck considered the best interests of all 47,000 claimants in reaching this decision."

Attorney Robert A. Kraft, Kraft & Associates, P.C., Dallas, Texas, summed up the sentiments of many regarding today's news. "While the settlement amount seems wholly inadequate, considering the large number of claimants whose lives were lost or shattered due to the negligence of Merck, it is at least heartening to know that the efforts of trial lawyers across the country have forced Merck to abandon its policy of total denial. Merck knew it was facing years of relentless pressure from innocent consumers and their attorneys, and in the face of that pressure Merck has decided to follow a more reasonable path toward closure of these claims."

About Consultwebs.com
Consultwebs.com, Inc. is a full-service Internet/Web design and Web consulting company. Its primary focus is law firm Web marketing and design, and the company supports more than 300 law firm client Web sites and has worked with numerous businesses and legal organizations, such as the American Bar Association. Consultwebs.com has more than seventy-five years of combined business consulting experience. http://www.consultwebs.com

Press Contact: Lisa M. Vaughn
Company Name: Consultwebs.com, Inc.
Phone: 919-413-1757
Website: http://www.consultwebs.com

Vioxx Verdict Vast: $4.85 Billion

$4.85 Billion Verdict Announced - Largest in U.S. History

After more than five years of hard-fought and difficult litigation, Merck has agreed to pay $4.85 billion, the largest pharmaceutical settlement in history, to resolve certain Vioxx-related claims involving plaintiffs who suffered a heart attack (including sudden cardiac death) or a stroke. Beasley Allen's Andy Birchfield and his Vioxx team of lawyers -- Benjamin Locklar, P. Leigh O'Dell, and W. Roger Smith, III -- played an integral role in the development of the Settlement Program and in Merck agreeing to settle these cases.

Montgomery, AL (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 -- After more than five years of hard-fought and difficult litigation, Merck has agreed to pay $4.85 billion, the largest pharmaceutical settlement in history, to resolve certain Vioxx-related claims involving plaintiffs who suffered a heart attack (including sudden cardiac death) or a stroke. Beasley Allen's Andy Birchfield and his Vioxx team of lawyers - Benjamin Locklar, P. Leigh O'Dell, and W. Roger Smith, III -- played an integral role in the development of the Settlement Program and in Merck agreeing to settle these cases.

Mr. Birchfield is known nationwide as one of the leading Vioxx lawyers. He is Co-Lead Counsel of the coordinated Vioxx MDL litigation in New Orleans, and he is one of the few attorneys in the country that has tried a Vioxx case before a jury. He is one of only two lawyers nationwide who has tried Vioxx cases in both state and federal courts.

The Settlement Program will settle the claims of thousands of qualified claimants who suffered a heart attack, ischemic stroke, or sudden cardiac death resulting from Vioxx. The settlement funds will be allocated among thousands of qualifying claims based upon an evaluation of each Qualifying Claimant's medical records by a Claims Administrator. We feel the Settlement Program is fair and that it provides qualifying clients the ability to be compensated for their injuries in the foreseeable future, rather than competing for a trial date with the thousands of other Vioxx cases pending nationally.

The litigation involving product liability claims related to the pain reliever, Vioxx, has been ongoing for over five years. It is estimated that thousands personal of injury lawsuits have been filed. Discovery has been ongoing in consolidated cases throughout the country since 2001. Over 50 million pages of documents have been produced and reviewed. More than 2005 general depositions have been taken thus far. Thousands of motions have been filed and considered. Hundreds of experts in cardiology, pharmacology, neurology and other disciplines have been consulted. Moreover, over 19 trials have taken place between August 2005 and September 2007 with mixed results, including defense verdicts, plaintiff's verdicts, hung juries, and retrials.

More than 11 months ago in December 2006, Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the Federal Court in New Orleans in consultation with coordinating Judges Victoria Cheney of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Carol Higbee of the New Jersey Superior Court and Judge Randy Wilson of the Harris County, Texas District Court directed Merck and Plaintiffs to begin continuous and frequent confidential negotiations.

For Plaintiffs, the Judges appointed a six-member negotiating committee which included representatives from each coordinating state, the MDL Executive Committee and a member of the MDL Steering Committee at large.

Merck designated a like number of negotiators, and the two groups were directed to seek a potential resolution of filed and tolled cases in which folks alleged that they or loved ones had suffered heart attacks, ischemic strokes or sudden cardiac death as a result of Vioxx ingestion.

Negotiating teams met in more than 50 sessions in New Orleans, Montgomery, Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Houston. Several hundred phone conferences augmented face-to-face negotiations.

The coordinating Judges, during frequently scheduled meetings and phone calls, monitored the progress of the negotiations while at the same time managing dockets of thousands of cases.

From the plaintiffs' perspective many lawyers who were involved in conducting discovery about Vioxx, developing the science liability case, and trying cases before juries demonstrated great tenacity and excellence in their efforts to secure compensation for plaintiffs who suffered injuries which we believe are a result of Vioxx.

The resulting $4.85 billion resolution is a resolution which was hard-fought and portended risks for all parties. In light of significant costs and delay that would result in protracted litigation, the Settlement Program will ensure that those who suffered injuries as a result of Vioxx are compensated fairly and efficiently.

Details regarding the Settlement Program, including eligibility and qualification requirements, may be accessed by visiting www.BeasleyAllen.com

To help understand the settlement, we have created an online settlement calculator.

About Beasley Allen:
Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, Beasley Allen is comprised of over 40 attorneys and 150 support staff. Beasley Allen is a national leader in civil litigation, having settled verdicts and settlements amounting to nearly $15 billion.

Andy Birchfield and Leigh O'Dell available for comment – 800.898.2034.

links: www.beasleyallen.com, www.officialvioxxsettlement.com

Press Contact:
Renee Lindsey
Beasley Allen
218 Commerce Street
Montgomery, AL
800.898.2034

Press Contact: Renee Lindsey
Company Name: BEASLEY ALLEN
Phone: 800-898-2034
Website: www.beasleyallen.com