Vioxx verdict tossed

A Texas appellate court reversed a $32 million jury verdict against Merck, finding that there was insufficient evidence that Vioxx caused the heart attack of Leonel Garza Sr. The jury had awarded $7 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages, the latter of which was reduced to $750,000. Juries have ruled in favor of Merck 12 times and in favor of plaintiffs five times. With the May 14 ruling reversing one of the five plaintiffs' wins, Merck may have more leverage in negotiating settlements of pending cases