$4.85 Billion Vioxx Settlement Validates Merck's Courthouse Strategy

It's a sign of the times that a company can express relief after agreeing to settle a massive set of lawsuits for $4.85 billion. But Merck's decision to end the Vioxx wars seems to be a victory for a company facing $20 billion in liability, and a validation of its courthouse strategy to fight each case. The Vioxx litigation against Merck began in 2001, but exploded after the company took the pain killer off the market in 2004. Since then, Merck was hit with some 26,600 suits, according to company documents.

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