These include the widely reported suicide of 19-year-old Traci Johnson, a volunteer who hanged herself in one of manufacturer Eli Lilly's own testing suites during a trial of Cymbalta.'I feel bitter and very, very angry'Christine Peckham, now 52, was in pain from osteoarthritis when her doctor first prescribed Vioxx four years ago.At first she was delighted "The arthritis was very painful," she says. It is believed to have caused 28,000 deaths in America alone. I believe this could be the biggest legal action ever."Gerard Dervan, a partner in the Liverpool law firm MSB, which is representing Ms Peckham, along with 60 other potential claimants, said: "The process is under way. We have a US attorney lined up and the files are in transit."It could be years before this case is heard in the UK, and then the costs could be astronomical and we will receive no public funding.
But Merck intends to appeal against the decision and has promised to fight up to 4,200 lawsuits from across America. It also faces claims from India, China, Canada and Italy.More than 500,000 Britons had taken Vioxx, one of a new generation of painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors. They were seen as a breakthrough in relief for arthritis sufferers because they did not have the side effects of established remedies.A 52-year-old woman from Skelmersdale, Lancashire has already begun filing court papers in the state of New Jersey, claiming the drug caused two strokes. Christine Peckham (below) is one of 150 people contemplating legal action before this weekend's publicity.Russell Spargo, of the law firm MSB, which is representing 60 British claimants, said yesterday: "We've been inundated with calls, all of them potentially strong cases. Mr de Menezes was then shot 10 times - three of the bullets missed.. Lawyers representing stroke victims and their relatives are preparing for what could be the largest global lawsuit in history after huge damages were awarded against the manufacturer of the painkiller Vioxx.
On Friday, a Texas jury ordered Merck to pay $253m (£141m) to the widow of a man who died in his sleep from a Vioxx-induced heart attack. British legal firms are predicting that claims from this country alone will run into the thousands. Vioxx was taken off the market last September after a long-term study found it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.The court rejected Merck's argument that he died of clogged arteries. A police witness says Mr de Menezes stood up when the police arrived. The policeman then pinned his arms to his sides and pushed him back in the seat. He stated: "As he walked out of my field of vision, I checked the photographs [of the four suspects] and transmitted that it would be worthWhat police said - and what really happenedThe police claim: A man of "Asian appearance", behaving suspiciously, is shot dead by police on a Tube train in Stockwell.The truth: The dead man, Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was Brazilian.The police claim: His shooting was "directly linked" to the investigation into the London bombings.The truth: Mr de Menezes was an electrician and had nothing to do with the London bombings.The police claim: Witnesses described him running into the Tube station, vaulting the barriers.The truth: He walked into the station and picked up a free newspaper before entering with a travel pass He made his way to the platform. He started to run only when the train arrived.The police claim: Witnesses said he was wearing an "unseasonable" heavy coat, and Scotland Yard said his clothing had "added to suspicions".The truth: Photographs of the body show Mr de Menezes wearing a blue denim jacket.The police claim: "As I understand the situation the man was challenged and refused to obey police instructions" - Sir Ian Blair.The truth: There was no police challenge.The police claim: Mr de Menezes ran on to the Tube train, tripped and was shot five times by police as he lay on the floor.The truth: CCTV footage is said to show Mr de Menezes pausing, looking left and right, and sitting on a seat facing the platform.
