Explosive exchange in Vioxx trial as key defense experts testimony is disallowed.

In a stunning turn of events today in the Vioxx trial in NJ Judge Carol Higbee delivered a blow to the Merck defense by first disallowing a key Merck witness, and then delivering a blistering rebuke of the events leading up to her decision.

We strongly suggest you read the account in the Wall Street Journal online edition, whose account describes the shouting match and threatened removal of Merck's defense counsel over the matter.  In a move characterized as both impassioned and calculating, Merck appears to be inviting either a mistrial or establishing grounds for an appeal in yet another case in which the facts are turning against them and a plaintiff verdict seems more and more likely by the day.

We will get you a full account of the events in either our weekly broadcast of Civil Action Radio, or in one of our supplemental podcasts which you can find right here on The Legal Broadcast Network.