What Others Won't Tell You About Finding A Vioxx Attorney

Since a south Texas jury awarded more than a quarter billion dollars to the widow of a man who died after using Merck's Vioxx medication, the trial lawyers have been circling the web. Sites pop up every day, looking for new parties whom lawyers can represent. Banding together a large group of plantiffs puts a firm in a powerful position with regard to the court system and makes the company more likely to try to strike a deal.

Some estimates are that over 7,500 suits are pending or have already been filed with Courts throughout the United States. "Merck may be vigorously defending itself, but the blood is in the water," said Consumer Help Web President Joan Bounacos. "It is critical that consumers pick the right attorney if they intend to participate in legal proceedings."

Consumer Help Web, the Internet's leading consumer advocacy organization announced today a checklist to help consumers find the right legal representation if they are considering a Vioxx claim.

1. Ask your physician for a referral. Although every state "certifies" attorneys in different areas of expertise, your physician may know of an attorney whose practice involves healthcare-related cases.

2. Another resource to use is at FindLaw.com, which provides a list of self-reported information from law firms organized by city. That list is located at http://lawyers.findlaw.com/lawyer/practice/Products%20Liability%20Law

3. Shop for an attorney based on the attorney's experience, proposed fees (especially any contingency fees in the event of a settlement) and referrals. Do not simply pick the first attorney who approaches you or one who offers a lower contingency fee without first investigating them.

4. Check with your local bar association to ensure there are no pending or previous complaints regarding your attorney. An interactive listing of local bar associations can be found for free on the web at http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html

5. Once you have selected a lawyer, read everything carefully before you sign a document. Ask for "plain English" descriptions of any wording you do not understand. Once you are given that description, ask to have the description added to your Agreement as an addendum.

6. Make sure you understand who will be your contact in the attorney's firm. In many cases, the actual client contact will be with paralegals and associate attorneys. If you insist on regular meetings with the attorney signing an agrement with you, be prepared to write that requirement into the agreement. Also be prepared to pay extra for those meetings on a billable hour basis.

7. Understand what rights you are surrendering. In your Agreement, you may be assigning the attorney the opportunity to combine your case with others, sell or trade the case to another attorney or accept a settlement if a combined class votes to do so. That settlement's provisions will often allow for attorney's fees to be deducted from the initial amount. That means the attorneys are paid first.

8. Make sure your Agreement specifies what information or evidence you will need to provide and who will bear the costs of gathering that evidence.

9. Keep a written record of all conversations and correspondence with your attorney before, during and after signing an Agreement.

10. Inform your physician that you are now represented by legal counsel. You are not required to say anything, but doing so will help nurture trust and goodwill in your doctor-patient relationship.

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California Vioxx Attorney

The Brandi Law Firm has extensive experience in drug litigation. Thomas Brandi and John Hornbeck have over 50 years of trial experience successfully taking on defective drug companies on behalf of injured people. They have successfully represented clients injured from numerous drugs and devices including Rezulin, Phen-fen, L Tryptophan, Felbatol, breast implants, and the Dalkon Shield IUD. John Hornbeck has served on the MDL committees establishing liability for Rezulin, Phen-fen, and L-Tryptophan. The Brandi Law Firm has a team of attorneys, investigators, doctors and nurses investigating Vioxx cases.

Currently Mr. Brandi serves on the Plaintiff's Management Committee in the California Vioxx Litigation, and he and John Hornbeck both serve on the MDL Science and Discovery Committee in the national Vioxx litigation.

If we represent you, Mr. Brandi and Mr. Hornbeck will be your trial attorneys. On November 13, 2004 Mr. Brandi was named Trial Lawyer of the Year for the State of California by the Consumers Attorneys of California. He has been a finalist for Trial Lawyer of the Year for the Trial Lawyers of Public Justice (2004), Consumer Attorneys of California (2002) and San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (1999, 2001). If you consult with any counsel, you should ask who will be working on your case, and if the case goes to trial, the identity of the trial attorneys and their courtroom trial experience.

WHAT IS VIOXX?

The prescription drug Vioxx, manufactured by Merck & Co., is a prescription COX-2 selective, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was approved by the FDA in May 1999 for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, for the management of acute pain in adults, and for the treatment of menstrual symptoms. Vioxx was later approved for the relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children. It became a widely prescribed medication for the relief of pain caused by arthritis.

WHY WAS VIOXX WITHDRAWN FROM THE MARKETPLACE?

The FDA was informed by Merck & Co., on September 27, 2004, that the Data Safety Monitoring Board for an ongoing long-term study of Vioxx (APPROVe) had recommended that the study be stopped early for safety reasons. The study was being conducted in patients at risk for developing recurrent colon polyps. The study showed an increased risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) in patients on Vioxx compared to placebo, particularly those who had been taking the drug for longer than 18 months. Based on this new safety information, Merck and FDA officials met the next day, September 28, 2004, and during that meeting the FDA was informed that Merck was voluntarily withdrawing Vioxx from the market place.

WHY WOULD I NEED AN ATTORNEY?

If you or your loved one suffered a "cardiovascular event" (including heart attack and stroke) while taking Vioxx, there may be a causal link between the two. If Vioxx caused the event, you are entitled to seek financial relief under personal injury and defective product liability laws.

At The Brandi Law Firm, our defective drug litigation attorneys have extensive experience representing victims of injuries and people who have lost loved ones as a result of defective medication. John Hornbeck was a key member of the MDL Committees establishing product defect in Fen-Phen Rezulin and L-tryptophan. If you think you may have suffered an injury or lost a loved one as a result of taking Vioxx, contact us immediately. We will schedule a FREE CONSULTATION where you will meet with a knowledgeable defective drug lawyer.

We serve clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Irvine, and Ventura, as well as San Mateo, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Solano, Contra Costa, Marin, Orange, and Santa Clara Counties.

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Vioxx Attorney

Cases involving drugs causing side effects can be extremely difficult to prove. Going up against powerful drug companies and having to prove without a doubt that the drug was responsible for the alleged health effect can be challenging. In the case of Vioxx, the drug was recalled because of the increased risk of heart attack and stroke, which can be suffered due to various reasons.

The Vioxx recall was controversial with accusations that the drug company Merck & Co. could have pulled the drug years be fore after its own study indicated risk of heart attack and stroke. Merck has defended its actions regarding their blockbuster drug Vioxx. Vioxx attorneys were immediately contacted following the removal announcement for side effects now believed to have been the result of taking the drug. An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. alone have used Vioxx. A Vioxx attorney who is experienced in matters like drug recalls understands the complexity of the se cases and has access to the many resources the drug industry is able to retain and must be met with powerful evidence and testimony.

Vioxx attorneys have seized an FDA warning letter dated September 17, 2001 that was sent to Merck Chief Executive Raymond Gilmartin. The Vioxx lawsuits that ensue may focus on the 2001 FDA warning, according to some predictions. Included in the warning letter is the agency saying Merck engaged in “a promotional campaign for Vioxx that minimizes the potentially serious cardiovascular finding that were observed.” The letter was sent after Merck completed its VIGOR study, which it started in January 1999 and made preliminary results available in March 2000.

The Vioxx attorneys arguing cases are expected to use the VIGOR study results and Merck’s reaction to them. The test was designed to see if Vioxx causes fewer gastrointestinal problems than naproxen, a drug that belongs to the same class of drugs as ibuprofen and aspirin. Upon Vioxx approval, the FDA still required Vioxx labeling to include the same digestive warning s that it requires on naproxen , despite claims that Vioxx was associated to a lower risk of the side effect. While VIGOR did show Vioxx had fewer gastrointestinal problems than naproxen, the unexpected discovery was that a person taking Vioxx had a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than someone taking naproxen.

Even though coronary artery blockage is one of the leading killers in the U.S., Vioxx attorneys are sure to argue Merck’s attempts to downplay what the VIGOR study revealed. Merck indicated in a March 2000 press release that the VIGOR study showed there were significantly fewer heart attack and strokes observed in naproxen patients, which the company attributed to naproxen’s ability to protect against them instead of Vioxx’s ability to cause them. The FDA letter seized by Vioxx attorneys accuses Merck of minimizing unfavorable findings , and the agency ordered the company to send doctors a letter in September 2001 “to correct false or misleading impressions and information” the company had made.

In April 2002, the FDA followed its own advisory panel’s recommendations, requiring Merck to implement a Vioxx labeling change warning of the possible link to heart attacks and strokes. Following the Vioxx recall, the Merck president Peter Kim was asked why a Vioxx recall was not made after the VIGOR study four and a half years prior to the actual recall, and Kim claimed the VIGOR study did not allow Merck to make a decision because a placebo was not used. The latest 3-year Merck-sponsored study was cut short after 18 months using a placebo , when the company could no longer deny potentially deadly effects were being risked by taking Vioxx.

After the Vioxx recall announcement, Vioxx attorneys nationwide were contacted. Merck has said it has “strong and meritorious” defenses in the case filed against it, but some analysts predict Vioxx litigation could become very costly for the drugmaker

For more information on the Vioxx recall, please contact us to confer with a Vioxx attorney.

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Vioxx Lawyers are Still Helping Victims Get Their Due

Vioxx was one of the most widely prescribed pain relievers of our time. It was also a very significant pharmaceutical mistake by a major drug manufacturer. Nearly 20 million people looked to the drug to help deal with their osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other sources of pain. After the Food and Drug Administration reviewed the data accumulated by Merck , the company had to withdraw Vioxx from the market due to the increased risks of heart attacks. Contacting an experienced Vioxx attorney is the only way you’ll see restitution since Merck now insists that it will defend any Vioxx claim in court. It is important that you act quickly since all personal injury suits are subject to a statute of limitations.

The staff at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman are dedicated New York Vioxx lawyers available to fight for your rights. Our experienced Vioxx lawyers understand the feelings that occur when a drug you’re taking to help your pain ends up causing more serious medical problems or even death. Vioxx was taken off the market on September 30, 2004, but the pain afflicted to people who had adverse reactions to Vioxx continues.

If you or a family member suffered a heart attack, stroke or other ailment associated with Vioxx, or if someone in your family suffered a fatality because of it, don’t delay in contacting an experienced New York Vioxx attorney at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman today.

We work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t pay a cent until you receive compensation, at which point you are charged a percentage of the settlement.

There is no fee for our services unless a recovery is won.

We offer a free initial consultation. If you feel that you, or a family member, had an adverse reaction to Vioxx and wish to bring legal action for compensation, Click here to contact our Vioxx lawyers for legal representation. You may also call toll free at: 1-800-9-LIPSIG for a free consultation.

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Vioxx Attorney

Securing the expert counsel of a Vioxx attorney is crucial in protecting your interests in a legal claim against Merck, the makers of this once-popular prescription pain medication. In 1999 the FDA approved Vioxx, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the treatment of arthritis and other chronic pain conditions. Merck aggressively promoted Vioxx as a safer and more effective means of relieving pain in comparison to over the counter medication such as ibuprofen and naproxen . Vioxx was known for being gentler than traditional NSAIDS, while providing powerful pain relief.

In 2004, Vioxx was pulled off the market after a study showed that using Vioxx for 18 months or longer doubled the risk of serious cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Results also showed that Vioxx patients suffered from seizures and serious liver and kidney problems. At the time of the Vioxx recall, approximately 20 million people had used Vioxx to treat various pain conditions.

There have been over 7,000 lawsuits filed against the makers of Vioxx on behalf of people who have been severely injured by the drug. A qualified Vioxx attorney can provide you with the specific regulations regarding your suit as well as provide a knowledgeable background of the current findings. The advantage of obtaining the counsel of a Vioxx attorney is the experience that they have in dealing with numerous similar Vioxx injury cases. These knowledgeable attorneys can help in discovering what the appropriate path for litigation is for those who have suffered injury and other losses.

If Vioxx has affected you or a loved one, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Vioxx attorney who can inform you of your rights and options. A Vioxx attorney is prepared to help you take the appropriate steps for your legal and personal well being. Please contact us to confer with a Vioxx attorney in your area for a free consultation regarding your case.

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Durable Power (Vioxx attorney) of Attorney

A of the durable lawyer authorizes calledilprincipale representative [ lawyer-in-fact ] to continuarea tobehave for he or she after that it or it is inabilitante; legalildocumento must contain the words, "this alimentazionedell' lawyerwill not be influenced from my incapacity" or "questaalimentazione ofeffective the lawyer transformer in on the miainabilit " orsomething along lines.

However similar, ilprincipale must besigned the feeding of the durable lawyer firmataprima that it or it isdisabled. Moreover, the document to have ideally as the main one willbe determined for essereinabilitato in fashion from when thelawyer-in-fact it tries to effettuarel' feeding of the durable lawyer,to be able to convince it he or she iterzi that the main one iseffectively disabled.

A chel' feeding of the durable lawyercan limit to the good immobiledell' surplus of authority and vioxx attorney to thefinancial arguments. But if ilprincipale it is authorizing someone totake to the decisions medichesul its favor, he or it can indicate ifthe sustemi of withdrawn sopravvivenzadovrebbero to be thought or offorehead to one malattiaterminale or to main an imminent one ofdeath.

The pu revocare anytime an feeding of the lawyerdurevole.Per to make therefore, he or she she would have to inform thelawyer-in-fact, in the writing, than the feeding of the lawyer it isrevocanda echiede the return of all the copies of the feeding of theavvocato.Il main would have also to inform its bank or thealtraistituzione financial institution in which the lawyer-in-fact shehas usatol' feeding of the lawyer who has been revocato. Finally, itor leidovrebbe to classify a copy of the cancellation with thediContea secretary, if the feeding of the lawyer has beenarchiviatanell' office of the employee. He is in the interests ofprincipaleassumere a lawyer in order to carry out therevocation.

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Finding A Vioxx (or any) Attorney

Since a south Texas jury awarded more than a quarter billion dollars to the widow of a man who died after using Merck's Vioxx medication, the trial lawyers have been circling the web. Sites pop up every day, looking for new parties whom lawyers can represent. Banding together a large group of plantiffs puts a firm in a powerful position with regard to the court system and makes the company more likely to try to strike a deal.

Some estimates are that over 7,500 suits are pending or have already been filed with Courts throughout the United States. "Merck may be vigorously defending itself, but the blood is in the water," said Consumer Help Web President Joan Bounacos. "It is critical that consumers pick the right attorney if they intend to participate in legal proceedings."

Consumer Help Web, the Internet's leading consumer advocacy organization announced today a checklist to help consumers find the right legal representation if they are considering a Vioxx claim.

1. Ask your physician for a referral. Although every state "certifies" attorneys in different areas of expertise, your physician may know of an attorney whose practice involves healthcare-related cases.

2. Another resource to use is at FindLaw.com, which provides a list of self-reported information from law firms organized by city. That list is located at http://lawyers.findlaw.com/lawyer/practice/Products%20Liability%20Law

3. Shop for an attorney based on the attorney's experience, proposed fees (especially any contingency fees in the event of a settlement) and referrals. Do not simply pick the first attorney who approaches you or one who offers a lower contingency fee without first investigating them.

4. Check with your local bar association to ensure there are no pending or previous complaints regarding your attorney. An interactive listing of local bar associations can be found for free on the web at http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html

5. Once you have selected a lawyer, read everything carefully before you sign a document. Ask for "plain English" descriptions of any wording you do not understand. Once you are given that description, ask to have the description added to your Agreement as an addendum.

6. Make sure you understand who will be your contact in the attorney's firm. In many cases, the actual client contact will be with paralegals and associate attorneys. If you insist on regular meetings with the attorney signing an agrement with you, be prepared to write that requirement into the agreement. Also be prepared to pay extra for those meetings on a billable hour basis.

7. Understand what rights you are surrendering. In your Agreement, you may be assigning the attorney the opportunity to combine your case with others, sell or trade the case to another attorney or accept a settlement if a combined class votes to do so. That settlement's provisions will often allow for attorney's fees to be deducted from the initial amount. That means the attorneys are paid first.

8. Make sure your Agreement specifies what information or evidence you will need to provide and who will bear the costs of gathering that evidence.

9. Keep a written record of all conversations and correspondence with your attorney before, during and after signing an Agreement.

10. Inform your physician that you are now represented by legal counsel. You are not required to say anything, but doing so will help nurture trust and goodwill in your doctor-patient relationship.

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Contact An Experienced Vioxx Lawyer For Injuries From This Drug

Are you looking for an attorney because you feel you are a victim of the once popular drug Vioxx? An experienced Vioxx lawyer can help you file a claim and will fight for your rights to receive compensation for the injuries you received while taking Vioxx.

The FDA approved anti-inflammatory non-steroidal NSAID drug Vioxx, chemically referred to as rofecoxib, was introduced in 1999 for the treatment of menstrual pain as well as pain associated with various forms of arthritis in adults and children. Since the introduction of Vioxx, it was taken by millions of people in an effort to reduce pain and inflammation before the manufacturer, Merck & Company, voluntarily withdrew it from the market due to results of a long-term study.

Studies of FDA approved Vioxx indicated there was an increased risk of serious heart attacks and strokes. Before Vioxx was pulled from the market, over 140,000 people suffered strokes and heart attacks, and as many as 55,000 have died due to the insufficient study of the effects of this drug before it was approved by the FDA. In fact, it is claimed that Merck and Company was fully aware of the increased risk posed to those taking the drug.

If you are considering contacting a Vioxx lawyer, don't hesitate to do so. Contacting a Vioxx lawyer as soon as possible will raise your chances of a successful claim. After considering the circumstances, a Vioxx lawyer can advise clients as to the amount of compensation they stand to gain.

Many Vioxx users who have suffered injury due to the use of Vioxx have already contacted attorneys who specialize in Vioxx lawsuits. It's in the best interest of anyone who has been adversely affected by Vioxx to contact a qualified Vioxx lawyer who can offer advice regarding filing a claim against the manufacturer.

A Vioxx lawyer is well educated in legal aspects regarding Vioxx and the possibilities for recovering damages caused by its use. Don't take your case to just any attorney. An experienced Vioxx lawyer knows the loopholes, and they can offer advice as to the best course of action in your particular case.

Big drug companies such as Merck use the most highly skilled legal teams to stop claims against them. It is for this reason that people who have suffered illness or injury because of Vioxx should also use a highly skilled Vioxx lawyer. A Vioxx lawyer with prior legal experience in dealing with Vioxx claims will match the skills and abilities of legal teams hired by the drug manufacturer Merck.

It could be in your best interest to file a class action lawsuit as opposed to an individual lawsuit. An experienced Vioxx lawyer can advise you as to whether or not filing a class action lawsuit against the maker of Vioxx is in your best interest and the interest of your claim. If it is determined that a class action lawsuit is in your best interest, a Vioxx lawyer will advise you accordingly.

Choose a Vioxx lawyer to fight for your rights and secure the claim you and your family deserve. The overall success of your case against Merck is dependent on the skills of the attorney you choose, and a competent Vioxx lawyer will provide you with the best information and advice that will maximize your Vioxx injury claim.

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