MERCK'S SPIN

In an article on money.cnn dated 1/18/08, the following was stated:

A total of 57,167 claimants have registered for the settlement program, which Fallon said represents about 95 percent of potential claimants. Merck has said it will withdraw from the agreement unless at least 85 percent of people in different groups of claimants sign on.

A total of 3,065 claimants already have moved on to the next phase and enrolled in the program, said Merck spokesman Kent Jarrell.

"We expect that we will meet and exceed the thresholds required for funding the settlement," Jarrell said following Friday's hearing. "We just don't know when it will occur."

See, money.cnn.com for the whole article.

This is a prime example of Merck’s spin on things. First, the individual plaintiffs didn’t register for the settlement, their lawyers did it for them. Many did it without consulting their clients.

Doing the math, now this is approximate, less than 6% of the plaintiffs have signed (opt-in) the Release of All Claims. Merck has a long way to go and a little more than one month left to get the other 79% of plaintiffs to sign. Therefore, if you are currently a plaintiff looking to investigate your options, don’t get disheartened just because Merck is touting “success”. As they say, “the game ain't over until the fat lady sings”.
And I am not singing!

Tired Of Being The Victim

I am about to become a victim of big business again. The very first time I believe I was victimized by this particular big business (Merck) was when my doctor prescribed Vioxx for my arthritis pain, through no fault of his own.

I was not in great health, but I was doing really well controlling my diabetes, I was walking a mile a day about 3 days a week. I was eating healthier (more veggies, fruits, chicken, fish, etc.)

I had been taking Vioxx since 1999. Unaware as most vioxx users were to the side effects of this "wonder drug". In 2001 I suffered a massive heart attack and darned near died. Instead thanks to some wonderful doctors and a great hospital, I received what they now term a CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft). In layman's terms a quadruple bypass. Since 2001, I have been given many medications because of this bypass surgery. I now take a total of 18 pills a day as well as insulin (2 different types) every day. Now because of this, my Eligibility as a Claimant may now be in question.

I am writing this blog because as most of you have heard of the Vioxx litigation, and recently the news has told of the "Settlement" that Merck is offering. What most of you do not know is the ridiculous terms of the "settlement" that we plaintiffs have to agree to in order to settle.

For more information visit the plaintiffs group