Vioxx Suit Filed in Phoenix on Behalf of Arizonans
November 21, 2004 07:34 {http://www.kpho.com}

The maker of the arthritis medication Vioxx faces a class-action lawsuit in Arizona, one of several filed throughout the country against the manufacturer of the withdrawn pain reliever.

The suit against Merck & Co. Inc., filed Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court, claims the company misrepresented the medication's risks and benefits to consumers.

It focuses on recovering money Arizonans spent on Vioxx before the popular drug for arthritis and acute pain was removed from the market on Sept. 30 over health concerns.

"They falsely represented certain attributes of the product," said Robert Carey, the lead attorney in the Arizona suit. "So this issue is why are you taking my money? It's a straight consumer-protection claim. Did you make deceptive statements or did you materially omit information that would help me make a decision whether I want to take this product?"