If so, you may have a possible legal case against the manufacturer of the potentially dangerous drug or medical product. Simply fill out the short form below and an experienced legal expert will contact you as soon as possible!

First Name:

Last Name:

Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

Daytime Phone Number:

Alternate Phone Number (Optional):

E-Mail Address:

Is this request for you or someone else?
Myself
My Spouse or
Minor Child
Other Relative or Friend

Drug Or Device Exposed To:

Dates Taken:

Related Health Problems Caused By The Drug:

By Clicking Above You Are Agreeing To Our Privacy Policy

New Vioxx Trial Ordered For Retired FBI Agent

Added September 20th, 2006

A new trial has been ordered for a retired FBI agent who sued Merck, the manufacturers of the controversial painkiller Vioxx, and was awarded $50 million in compensation. A federal judge ruled earlier this week that the award was ‘grossly excessive’ and that in order to determine damages for the plaintiff a new trial must be arranged.

The retired agent, Gerald Barnett, filed the lawsuit alleging that he suffered a heart attack in 2002 as a result of taking Vioxx, which can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, District Judge Eldon E. Fallon stated that ‘no reasonable jury’ could have found that he was entitled to such a large sum.

Merck will still be held liable for the heart attack that Barnett suffered due to taking Vioxx, as the jury in the original trial found that Merck "knowingly misrepresented or failed to disclose" information about the increased risk of heart attack to the plaintiff’s doctors.

The judge wrote: "All three of the plaintiff's claims revolve around the safety risks of Vioxx, what Merck knew about any such risks, when Merck knew this information and what Merck should have done about it." However, he added that the compensation that was awarded was "excessive under any conceivable standard of excessiveness."

New Vioxx Trial... | Printable Version (Opens In New Window)

Important Notice: RYAR.org is a legal informational site sponsored by the Peterson Firm, LLC. The Peterson Firm’s office is located at: 20 N. Orange Ave - Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32801. The Peterson Firm is licensed by the Florida Bar Association to practice law within the state of Florida. If the Peterson Firm undertakes representation of a client outside the state of Florida, it will do so with assistance of local counsel from a law firm located in the state where the case is filed. If Peterson Firm undertakes representation in the state of Florida it will also do so with assistance of co counsel.

The content contained herein was not prepared by lawyers and should not be taken as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. Additionally, this information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship simply by its viewing. The creation of an attorney-client relationship requires more than viewing this or affiliated websites. Neither the transmission nor receipt of this website material will create an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. The material contained herein is general in nature and may or may not be applicable to a viewer’s individual legal needs. Online readers should not act on this information without seeking professional counsel. Please read our 'Terms & Conditions Of Use' for more information.

Additionally, the information contained on RYAR.org, including but not limited to informational articles, other text/images, and on or off site links, has not been prepared, endorsed, or reviewed by any form of licensed medical professional, including but not limited to physicians, doctors, and so on. Nothing on the this website should be taken as medical advice, but instead should act as a useful resource in providing general information that may be useful to members of the general public. All visitors are encouraged to consult with a physician or other licensed medical professional for any form of medical advice. Please see our 'Terms & Conditions Of Use' for further information