Drug-maker-Merck-8-Cols blistering defeat in the nation's first Vioxx trial was only round one in a series of expected court battles in the coming months, many of them involving plaintiffs who have some major advantages.

After less than 11 hours of deliberation, a Texas jury yesterday found Merck & Co. responsible for the death of a 59-year old triathlete who was taking the company's once-popular painkiller, Vioxx.

Drug-maker Merck & Co.'s blistering defeat in the nation's first Vioxx trial was only round one in a series of expected court battles in the coming months.

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--A lawyer representing a number of people suing Merck (MRK) described the verdict returned Friday against the company in a Texas case as "a very important day for the victims of Vioxx."

LOS ANGELES,-Aug 19-(Reuters)~Merck & Co. Inc. could-face years of litigation and billions in damages, putting its stock price under pressure after a Texas jury found the company liable in the death of a man taking its painkiller Vioxx.

A Texas jury dealt a painful blow, finding the drug maker liable for a Vioxx patient’s death and slapping it with $253 million in damages. With about 4,200 more Vioxx lawsuits to go, the verdict was an ominous start for Merck.

Merck & Co., could face years of litigation and billions in damages, putting its stock price under pressure after a Texas jury found the company liable in the death of a man taking its painkiller Vioxx.

A lawyer representing a number of people suing Merck described the verdict returned Friday against the company in a Texas case as "a very important day for the victims of Vioxx."

A lawsuit filed by the widow of a Florida businessman has been chosen as the first Vioxx case to go to trial among nearly 2,000 cases pending in the federal Vioxx multi-district litigation (MDL).

A lawsuit filed by the widow of a Florida businessman has been chosen as the first Vioxx case to go to trial among nearly 2,000 cases pending in the federal Vioxx multi-district litigation (MDL).