Couple Wins $20M in Vioxx Trial

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March 12th, 2007

"Vioxx Lawsuit"

An Idaho state jury has found that the painkiller Vioxx contributed to the heart attack of a postal worker. The jury awarded him and his wife a multimillion-dollar verdict.

Frederick “Mike” Humeston and his wife were awarded $20 million in compensatory damages.

The verdict came at the end of an eight-week trial. This is the fifth Vioxx lawsuit Merck has lost, and the number of suits filed against them is increasing rapidly.

The Harmful Effect

Humeston, a Vietnam veteran, was taking the drug intermittently for two months to treat the pain in his knee resulting from a shrapnel wound.

According to the suit, Humeston, 61, suffered a heart attack several months before the drug's makers, Merck & Co., changed the drug's bottle label to include a sterner warning that the drug poses serious cardiovascular health risks.

The Verdict

The jury ruled on March 2 that Merck's negligence and failure to provide adequate warning information about the risks associated with the drug's use before Humeston's heart attack led to the attack.

That set the stage for the second phase of the trial, in which the jury found that Humeston and his wife were entitled to $20 million in damages for the heart attack.

Harmed by a Dangerous Drug?

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, illness or death as a result of taking a dangerous drug, you may be able to recover compensation for your pain, suffering, medical expenses and more. Please contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced and effective defective drug attorney who can examine your situation thoroughly and help you plan the best recourse.