A New Jersey jury has awarded Frederick Humeston and his wife $20 million in damages after Humeston suffered a heart attack while reportedly taking Vioxx. The jury found that the makers of Vioxx failed to put adequate warnings on the medication regarding cardiovascular risks. They also concluded that there was enough evidence to link the painkiller to Humeston’s heart attack.
The money that was awarded was for compensatory damages. The jury is now set to decide whether Merck & Co., the makers of the drug, should be liable for any punitive damages
The case is Humeston v. Merck, 03-2272, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County.
Source: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070312/BUSINESS/70312007
