Arizona Consumer Files First Class Action Against Vioxx Manufacturer Merck

PHOENIX, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- A Phoenix resident today filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Merck & Company (NYSE: MRK - News), manufacturers of Vioxx, a popular pain-relief drug recently withdrawn from the market after disclosures that the drug increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. The suit, filed by Edward W. Wright in Arizona Superior Court through Rob Carey and the Hagens Berman law firm, is the first statewide class action. Once certified by the court, the suit will represent any Arizona resident who purchased Vioxx over the past four years.

According to the complaint, consumers of Vioxx would have not have purchased the drug if the company fully disclosed the associated risks.

"Consumers all across Arizona purchased Vioxx, paying more than $2 a pill, about one hundred times the cost of regular aspirin," said Carey, a former Arizona chief deputy attorney general. "We believe that in addition to being held responsible for the enormous health implications, the makers of Vioxx owe consumers a financial obligation to return the huge profits they made in selling such a horribly flawed drug." Carey currently represents dozens of individuals who took Vioxx and are evaluating their claims against Merck for personal injuries.

The lawsuit alleges that Merck violated Arizona's consumer fraud act and unjustly profited from its conduct.