NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Seeger Weiss LLP announces that the jury verdict rendered in favor of Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mrk) in the Vioxx-related trial entitled, Humeston v. Merck, has been vacated. After hearing oral argument this morning in the New Jersey Superior Court in Atlantic County, N.J., the Honorable Carol E. Higbee ruled that the November 2005 trial verdict should be vacated on various grounds, including findings by the New England Journal of Medicine that Merck had failed to report material cardiovascular safety data in connection with the publication of its landmark Vioxx clinical study known as Vigor. The judge's ruling nullifies the verdict for all purposes, and will allow plaintiff, Frederick "Mike" Humeston, a new day in court. Seeger Weiss LLP's trial team was led by partners Christopher A. Seeger (http://www.seegerweiss.com/lawfirm/Employee.aspx?ID=19) and David R. Buchanan (http://www.seegerweiss.com/lawfirm/Employee.aspx?ID=39), who successfully argued the vacatur motion. In response to Judge Higbee's decision to vacate the trial verdict, Mr. Seeger stated: "It was difficult for our trial team to hear Merck's witnesses repeatedly distort the truth about the Vigor study results. The judge's ruling today corrects just the latest injustice committed on the entire Humeston family by Merck and ratifies the proper functioning of the judicial process."
Seeger Weiss LLP serves as Co-Lead counsel in the federal MDL Vioxx litigation and Co-Liaison Counsel in the coordinated New Jersey state Vioxx litigation. The Firm further represents numerous clients from across the country who suffered life-altering injuries as a result of taking Vioxx, and the firm also serves as Lead Counsel on behalf of union health and welfare programs in a class action pending in New Jersey for Merck's overcharging of union welfare funds for Vioxx. Recently, in a unanimous decision, the New Jersey Appellate Division upheld the trial court's decision certifying a Vioxx-related nationwide class action against Merck, brought on behalf of third-party payors by Seeger Weiss.
For further information, see http://www.seegerweiss.com/newItems/NewItem.aspx?ID=80 and http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Vioxx-P57/.