The Nationwide Merck / Zetia® Antitrust MDL -- In The USDC For Eastern Virginia -- Is Settled, And Closed, As Of Last Thursday.

My understanding is that there are a precious few remaining plaintiffs who've decided to continue on their own (people and organizations that claim they were overcharged -- via a monopolists' scheme, for what turned out to be a "very expensive cholesterol management placebo") -- in local courts dotting the nation, but the nearly $1 billion has been deposited -- for all others, by Merck.

And so this closes out about 15 years of our coverage of Zetia^® -- and the legacy of one "Fast" Fred Hassan, in shilling for it. Here's the final order:

. . .Having entered a Suggestion of Remand on November 29, 2023, recommending the termination of this MDL following the remand of the remaining member cases to their home districts, and having received notice from JPML that the remaining member cases have been transfeiTcd to their home districts. . .

IT IS on this 14th day of December 2023. . .

ORDERED that this MDL is CLOSED. . . .

Now you know -- onward, grinning -- escaping the cold, and happily trading it for. . . cacti. . . by Thursday evening. Woot!

नमस्ते