ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- A jury awarded $9 million in punitivedamages Tuesday to a man who blamed his heart attack on Vioxx,finding that manufacturer Merck & Co. knowingly withheld informationabout the risks of its arthritis drug from federal regulators.
Saying Merck's conduct showed a "wanton and willful disregard ofanother's rights," the state court jury added to the $4.5 million ithad awarded last week to John McDarby, 77, of Park Ridge, N.J., andhis wife, Irma.
Last Wednesday, the same panel found that Merck failed to warn ofthe drug's risks and committed consumer fraud in misrepresenting themto prescribing physicians.
"This is a victory for all of the …
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