Back in early June, in Australia, Merck lost a bench trial (at least in part), in the Vioxx® matters. Now, according to published reports, plaintiffs' attorneys in Melbourne are trying to expedite a payment mechanism, so that claimants will not die prior to receiving their payouts -- see this snippet:
. . . .The [Australian] Federal Court should expedite the cases of hundreds of Australians who had heart attacks after taking the anti-arthritis drug Vioxx so they do not die before receiving compensation, a barrister has argued.
Julian Burnside, QC, made the plea at a directions hearing in Melbourne yesterday after a judge this year found Vioxx doubled the risk of heart attack and the Australian subsidiary of Merck, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, had breached the Trade Practices Act by selling it.
In his ruling in the landmark class action in March, Justice Christopher Jessup awarded $287,000 to lead claimant Graeme Peterson, 59, who had a heart attack in 2003 after taking Vioxx. . . .
If the number of claimants rises to more than 1,000 -- at $287,000 per -- the damages look to be north of $287 million. I'll keep you posted.
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