The first scheduled trial of a wrongful death lawsuit against Merck & Co. over its painkiller Vioxx was postponed by an Alabama judge to avoid conflicts with federal litigation.

Court-ordered settlement talks began Tuesday between lawyers for Merck & Co. and attorneys for a woman who blames her husband’s death on the company’s once-popular pain reliever Vioxx.

A state court judge has ordered Vioxx manufacturer Merck & Co. to begin settlement talks with the widow of an Alabama man who blames the pain medication for her husband’s death, attorneys in the case said Monday.

Court-ordered settlement talks began Tuesday between lawyers for Merck & Co. and attorneys for a woman who blames her husband’s death on the company’s once-popular pain reliever Vioxx.

Court-ordered settlement talks that began between lawyers for Merck & Co. and attorneys for a woman who blames her husband's death on Vioxx ended with no agreement after less than an hour.

Court-ordered settlement talks began between lawyers for Merck & Co. and attorneys for a woman who blames her husband's death on the company's once-popular pain reliever Vioxx.

NEW YORK – Merck & co. has asked that the first Vioxx personal injury lawsuit scheduled to come to trial this month be dismissed, saying that a man who died of a heart attack after being prescribed Vioxx never took the drug.

The potential postponement this week of the first trial against Merck over its withdrawn painkiller could be unfavorable for the US drugmaker, as plaintiffs attorneys push a stronger case.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – A state court judge has ordered Vioxx manufacturer Merck & Co. to begin settlement talks with the widow of an Alabama man who blames the pain medication for her husband’s death, attorneys in the case said Monday.

A judge on Friday refused to dismiss a wrongful death suit filed against Merck and Company by a Talladega woman who said its painkiller Vioxx caused her husband’s death.