McDarby v. Merck

Summary

Pharmaceutical product liability trial against Merck for the painkiller drug Vioxx.

Outcome

Plaintiffs' verdict for $4.5 million for John McDarby and in favor of Cona for $45. McDarby was awarded $3 million for pain and suffering and his wife was awarded $1.5 million plus $9 million in punitive damages.

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Cona, Thomas
McDarby, John
Defense: Merck & Co
Verdict: $13,500,000

Judge: Carol Higbee
Jurisdiction: New Jersey Superior Court, Atlantic County
Court: Atlantic County Civil Courthouse

Case Number: L-3553-05 L-1296-05
Industry: Pharmaceutical
Practice Area: Products Liability

Plaintiff

Cona, Thomas

Represented By:
Lanier, W. "Mark" (Lanier Law Firm, PC)

Plaintiff

McDarby, John

Defense

Merck & Co

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

PM Session

Openings

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:30	Opening Statement	Jones, Christy
		01:06:50	End of Session

AM Session

Openings

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Opening Statement	Jones, Christy
		00:34:10	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
		01:01:20	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:19:50	General Case Activities
00:22:35	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:05	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:09:00	General Case Activities
00:10:39	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:16:30	General Case Activities
00:18:19	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:46:55	General Case Activities

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
		01:29:30	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
		00:45:10	General Case Activities

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:20	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:41:40	General Case Activities
00:52:30	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:15:57	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
		00:13:34	General Case Activities

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:24:50	General Case Activities
00:26:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:34:50	General Case Activities
00:35:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:43:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:53:15	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:59:15	General Case Activities
01:00:49	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:02:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:02:57	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:03:30	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:04:40	General Case Activities
01:06:02	Break
01:16:02	General Case Activities		Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
01:18:15	End of Session

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination		Braun, Dr. John	Video Recording
00:40:53	Witness Cross Examination	Dunn, Kevin	Braun, Dr. John	Video Recording
01:24:32	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Dunn, Kevin	Braun, Dr. John	Video Recording
		00:17:10	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
00:14:18	General Case Activities
00:15:08	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
00:28:10	General Case Activities
00:33:12	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
00:36:48	General Case Activities
00:37:02	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
00:50:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:02:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:06:28	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:06:52	Break
01:24:35	General Case Activities		Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:29:45	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:20	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
00:28:35	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:12:40	General Case Activities
01:13:40	End of Session

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	Witness Direct Examination		Duprins, Dr. Danny	Video Recording
00:10:42	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Joyce	Other
00:22:42	General Case Activities
00:23:27	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
00:27:27	General Case Activities
00:28:32	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
00:37:41	Witness Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
01:06:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
01:12:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
01:16:19	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Joyce	In Person
01:17:02	General Case Activities
01:28:29	General Case Activities		Cona, Joyce	In Person
01:30:39	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:15	General Case Activities
00:03:15	Witness Direct Examination	Kristal, Jerry	McDarby, John	In Person
00:27:10	General Case Activities			Video Recording
00:28:13	Witness Direct Examination	Kristal, Jerry	McDarby, John	In Person
00:28:25	General Case Activities
00:29:30	Witness Direct Examination	Kristal, Jerry	McDarby, John	In Person
00:47:00	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	McDarby, John	In Person
01:10:25	Break
01:20:30	General Case Activities		McDarby, John	In Person
01:21:50	Witness Direct Examination	Kristal, Jerry	McDarby, John	In Person
01:22:54	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	McDarby, John	In Person
01:24:10	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:35	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
00:11:22	General Case Activities
00:12:33	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:11	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
00:28:05	General Case Activities
00:33:40	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
00:45:20	General Case Activities
00:49:10	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
00:53:10	General Case Activities
00:57:00	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:38:15	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:11	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:26:14	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:09:30	Witness Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:27:28	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:14	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
		00:36:02	End of Session

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	General Case Activities
00:03:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:18:00	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:33:55	General Case Activities
01:58:04	General Case Activities		Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
02:39:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
02:44:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
02:47:40	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
00:05:46	General Case Activities
00:15:31	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:06:56	End of Session

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:04	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
		01:14:40	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
00:19:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
00:44:45	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
00:53:56	General Case Activities

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:12	Witness Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
		00:41:47	End of Session

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	Cona,	In Person
		00:30:35	General Case Activities

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Freiwald, Hope		Video Recording

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination			Video Recording
00:27:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Freiwald, Hope		Video Recording
00:31:20	Witness Direct Examination		McDarby, Erma	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities		McDarby, Erma	In Person

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:11	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
00:38:04	General Case Activities
00:40:31	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
01:01:54	End of Session

AM Session

Other

1 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:12	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
00:08:30	General Case Activities
00:09:31	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
00:16:51	General Case Activities
00:27:46	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
01:25:41	General Case Activities

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
00:12:55	General Case Activities
00:16:04	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
00:35:30	General Case Activities
00:36:30	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
01:00:55	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
01:18:09	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person
01:23:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Morrison, Dr. Briggs	In Person

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

MAR

PM Session

Closings

4 Chapters

AM Session

Closings

3 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

2 Chapters

AM Session

Closings

2 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Other

9 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Other

1 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Other

3 Chapters

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

AM Session

Closings

4 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Punitive Verdict

3 Chapters

APR

McDarby v. Merck

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:01	General Case Activities
00:03:45	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Anstice, Mr. David	In Person
00:56:15	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:50	Witness Direct Examination	Topol, Dr. Eric	Video Recording
01:01:44	Witness Cross Examination	Topol, Dr. Eric	Video Recording
01:58:00	Break

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:32	Witness Direct Examination			Video Recording
00:57:50	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Cona, Thomas	In Person
01:41:35	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	Witness Direct Examination	Duprins, Dr. Danny	Video Recording
01:08:50	General Case Activities
01:10:22	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:12:30	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:33:18	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:02	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:45:25	General Case Activities
01:47:01	General Case Activities
01:59:42	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
02:35:00	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:38	Witness Cross Examination	Jones, Christy	Krumholz, Dr. Harlan	In Person
01:21:42	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:47	Witness Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
00:24:38	General Case Activities
00:25:42	Witness Direct Examination	Gordon, Robert	DePace, Dr. Nicholas MD, FACC	In Person
01:47:35	Break

	Description	Attorney	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:41	Witness Direct Examination	Pennock, Paul	Video Recording
01:10:15	Witness Cross Examination	Freiwald, Hope	Video Recording
01:14:35	General Case Activities
01:15:20	Witness Cross Examination	Freiwald, Hope	Video Recording
01:18:20	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:08:20	General Case Activities
		00:09:20	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:27	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Reicin, Dr. Alise	In Person
00:49:58	Break

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:13	General Case Activities
		00:09:50	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:34:38	Witness Direct Examination	Jones, Christy	In Person
00:40:30	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	In Person

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	General Case Activities		Rayburn, Dr. Gary	In Person
00:07:00	General Case Activities	Gordon, Robert	Rayburn, Dr. Gary	In Person
00:10:40	General Case Activities	Jones, Christy	Rayburn, Dr. Gary	In Person

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Closing Statement
		00:21:10	General Case Activities
		00:21:50	Closing Statement
		01:04:00	Break

	Description	Attorney
00:03:07	General Case Activities
00:05:10	Closing Statement	Jones, Christy
02:31:30	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:39:45	General Case Activities
		00:51:20	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:07:10	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:15	General Case Activities
00:01:32	Opening Statement	Kristal, Jerry
00:10:52	Opening Statement	Jones, Christy
00:20:36	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Gilmartin, Prof. Raymond	In Person
00:25:46	General Case Activities
00:26:47	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Gilmartin, Prof. Raymond	In Person
01:24:12	General Case Activities
01:31:07	Witness Direct Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Gilmartin, Prof. Raymond	In Person
01:58:22	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:11	General Case Activities
00:00:56	Witness Direct Examination	Brock, Robert "Mike"	Rarick, Dr. Lisa D. MD	In Person
00:05:56	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Rarick, Dr. Lisa D. MD	In Person
01:07:41	General Case Activities
01:11:46	Witness Cross Examination	Lanier, W. "Mark"	Rarick, Dr. Lisa D. MD	In Person
01:28:31	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:14	General Case Activities
00:01:52	Witness Direct Examination	Shapiro, Dr. Deborah	Video Recording
00:33:04	Witness Direct Examination	Scolnick, Dr. Edward	Video Recording
00:36:54	General Case Activities
00:37:59	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:19	General Case Activities
		00:00:42	General Case Activities
		00:20:59	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:14:40	Closing Statement	Jones, Christy
00:59:12	Closing Statement	Lanier, W. "Mark"
01:36:20	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:11	General Case Activities
		00:02:48	Reading of the Verdict
		00:04:12	General Case Activities