Birnbaum & Associates P.C. presents the article: "Next federal Vioxx trial scheduled June 12"

(AP) - NEW ORLEANS-The next federal Vioxx trial - that of a New Orleans man who had a non-fatal heart attack in 2004 - will begin June 12, says the federal judge in charge of pretrial matters for all of the thousands of cases against drug maker Merck & Co.

Ellis Diaz's attorney had asked for a postponement, but U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon denied it, according to minutes of a status conference held March 23 and entered Monday into online court records.

Diaz, who first took Vioxx in September 2001 and had a heart attack on May 4, 2004, is asking $100,000 (â‚¬83,160) in damages from Merck.

Fallon also scheduled July 24, Sept. 11, Oct. 30 and Nov. 27 as trial dates for the next four cases. He has said he hopes to work out a settlement with attorneys after the early cases are heard.

2006-03-28T00:16:23Z

Title: Next federal Vioxx trial scheduled June 12	Article has been viewed : 545 times	Date: 3/31/2006 2:46:31 PM
(AP) - NEW ORLEANS-The next federal Vioxx trial - that of a New Orleans man who had a non-fatal heart attack in 2004 - will begin June 12, says the federal judge in charge of pretrial matters for all of the thousands of cases against drug maker Merck & Co. Ellis Diaz's attorney had asked for a postponement, but U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon denied it, according to minutes of a status conference held March 23 and entered Monday into online court records. Diaz, who first took Vioxx in September 2001 and had a heart attack on May 4, 2004, is asking $100,000 (â‚¬83,160) in damages from Merck. Fallon also scheduled July 24, Sept. 11, Oct. 30 and Nov. 27 as trial dates for the next four cases. He has said he hopes to work out a settlement with attorneys after the early cases are heard. 2006-03-28T00:16:23Z Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.