No Vioxx Class Action Says NJ Supreme Court
Merck's legal strategy surrounding claims against its
Vioxx medication appears to continue to be successful. The company chose to fight each claim individually. Now the New Jersey Supreme Court has refused to consolidate multiple filings as a class action, giving the big
pharma manufacturer another victory.
"Arguing each case individually is ideal for the company," says Consumer Help Web President Joan
Bounacos. "They can continue to address each plaintiff's issues individually, allow multiple juries to hear the facts and point to multiple successful defenses. The strategy will drag the company through courts for years, but is proving successful."
Consumer Help Web produced a
checklist for potential Vioxx plaintiffs nearly two years ago. "After the first verdict came in so high, we saw spikes in consumers lining up to file suit," Bounacos said. "Our goal was to ensure that consumers made smart choices when choosing their legal team."
Meanwhile, the New Jersey's court's order that all related cases be assigned to Superior Court Judge Carol Higbee remains in effect. Judge Higbee issued her first
case management order regarding Vioxx four years ago.
Labels: Carol Higbee, Merck, New Jersey, Vioxx
EPA's Coastal Crusader Can Make Beach Days Beautiful
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) helicopter, the “Coastal Crusader,” is tuned-up and ready for action and so is the Agency’s summer monitoring program. While the Coastal Crusader is scanning the New York and New Jersey harbor for floating debris that could make its way to area beaches, EPA scientists will be evaluating a new cutting-edge rapid water quality test that can identify harmful pathogens in a fraction of the time the traditional test takes. The Agency will analyze samples collected through the excellent monitoring programs conducted by local authorities. EPA will further support New Jersey and New York’s beach monitoring programs by providing them almost $1 million in grants to help them test for pathogens in recreational waters.
“When people go to the beach they want to have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that New Jersey and New York’s coastlines have to offer,” said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. “By scanning the inshore waters for floating debris, helping fund state and local beach monitoring programs, and working to put advanced scientific tools into the hands of local officials, EPA is truly doing its part to safeguard our sand and surf.”
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, EPA uses the Coastal Crusader to search for floating debris that can wash up on area beaches. Information is given to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which uses skimmer vessels to remove debris from the surface water and ensure that no floating debris is washed ashore on area beaches.
EPA also awards funds to both New Jersey and New York each year under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) to make beach monitoring programs more consistent nationwide, improve water quality testing at the beach, and help beach managers better inform the public about water quality problems. The act authorizes EPA to award grants to help eligible states, tribes, and territories develop and implement beach water quality monitoring and notification programs. This year, EPA will give New Jersey $441,955, and New York $512,965.
Labels: clean water, EPA, New Jersey, New York
