Merck Agrees to Settle Vioxx Suits for $4.85 Billion - New York Times

Merck Agrees to Settle Vioxx Suits for $4.85 Billion - New York Times: "The settlement, one of the largest ever in civil litigation, comes after nearly 20 Vioxx civil trials over the last two years from New Jersey to California. After losing a $253 million verdict in the first case, Merck has won most of the rest of the cases that reached juries, giving plaintiffs little choice but to settle. The settlement will help put Vioxx behind Merck, as well as sharply reduce its Vioxx-related legal defense fees, which are now running at more than $600 million annually."