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!

A Doctor's Statement

Below is a statement posted on VPEG by David Egilman, MD. The good doctor has included his own titles and address to show his qualifications.

"I am a physician & served as a witness at the request of plaintiffs in this litigation. I have seen or had access to most of the Merck documents. Most of the most important documents that demonstrate fraud and marketing practices have not been made public.

I believe individual plaintiffs have the right to see these documents & insist that they be made public. This would benefit public health.

David Egilman, MD, MPH

Clinical Associate Professor

Department of Community Health

Brown University

8 North Main Street

Suite 404

Attleboro, MA 02703"

Just what are the documents that the doctor speaks of and why haven't the plaintiffs' attorneys brought them foreword?

I think we would all like to know why.

There is a repository of documents in this case, that is located in New Orleans, that only lawyers are allowed to look at. Let's make them public so we can all know just how dangerous Merck is.

For more information go to VPEG