Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers, LLP Announces $4.85 Billion Vioxx Settlement

November 9, 2007, Houston

Partner Ed Blizzard of Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers, LLP had the distinct honor of serving on the Vioxx Negotiating Committee, which obtained a $4.85 billion global settlement from Merck & Co. to settle thousands of heart attack and stroke cases nationwide. The global settlement is the result of over 11 months of hard fought negotiations, which began when Honorable Eldon E. Fallon, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, in coordination with Honorable Randy Wilson of the Harris County, Texas District Court, Honorable Victoria Cheney of the Los Angeles Superior Court and Honorable Carol Higbee of the New Jersey Superior Court, directed the parties to begin settlement talks.

The Judges appointed six trial attorneys with experience handling and trying Vioxx cases to represent plaintiffs with personal injury lawsuits against Merck in the negotiations. Ed Blizzard, founding partner of Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers, LLP was appointed by Honorable Randy Wilson. Merck also designated attorneys to negotiate its interests. The two groups of negotiators met over 50 times in New Orleans, Montgomery, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Philadelphia and New York.

The global settlement announced today resolves thousands of lawsuits involving Vioxx related claims in which the plaintiff suffered a heart attack, ischemic stroke or sudden cardiac death while taking Vioxx. Vioxx, a pain reliever used to treat arthritis, was withdrawn from the market on September 30, 2004, after being linked with increased risks of heart attack and ischemic stroke.

"I am very proud of the work we have done for people who suffered a heart attack or stroke as a result of taking Vioxx. For years, Merck offered them no compensation. Now, finally, because of our persistence, and the patience of our clients, we have achieved a settlement that will provide fair compensation, based upon objective criteria in a relatively short period of time," said Mr. Blizzard.

The settlement process is now underway. Claimants who suffered a heart attack or ischemic stroke while taking Vioxx will have the opportunity to register their claims and enroll in the settlement program. There are threshold requirements each claimant must satisfy in order to qualify for compensation under the program. After a claim meets the threshold requirements, it will be further evaluated by the Vioxx Claims Administrator according to criteria set out in the settlement agreement.

If you are a client of Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers, LLP, who currently has a lawsuit filed against Merck related to a heart attack or ischemic stroke you or a loved one suffered while taking Vioxx, materials related to the settlement will be sent to you in the coming weeks. Please make sure that you promptly respond, and call the Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers, LLP Vioxx department with any questions you have.

Ed Blizzard can be reached for comment at (877)844-3760.