Merck likely to pay millions to each Vioxx victim

More details are emerging on the Vioxx lawsuit trial in Texas last week. Not only that Ms. Carol Ernst was mistreated by Merck attorneys during cross examination, but also that the jury punished the company for being too aggressive in marketing the drug. And everyone now agrees that the jury was very professional throughout the trial.

The company, however, continues its attact on the victims and is also appealing the verdict so that Ms. Ernst will receive about $26 million rather than $253 million that the jury awarded to her.

But there is more trouble ahead for Merck. It appears that the company delayed label changes that could have saved thousands of American lives, and analysts argue that if all plaintiffs were to get even 5% of the $26 million (or just $1.3 million) that Ms. Ernst is receiving, then Merck will have to settle the cases out of court since the company's liabilities will exceed $65 billion.