New York Drug Litigation Lawyers

Mayor Bloomberg and Attorney General Cuomo Sue Maker of Vioxx for Hiding Drug's Risks

First Time State and City Bring Joint Action to Fight Medicaid Fraud

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today filed a joint lawsuit against the maker of Vioxx for misrepresenting the dangers the drug posed to its users. The lawsuit seeks damages and civil penalties in addition to restitution for tens of millions of taxpayer dollars wrongfully spent on Vioxx prescriptions, and marks the first time the State and City have brought a joint action to fight Medicaid fraud. The civil suit, filed today in New York State Supreme Court, New York County, accuses Merck & Co., Inc. of deliberately suppressing and concealing information about the seriousness of the cardiovascular risks associated with Vioxx. The suit claims many of those prescriptions would never have been written had doctors been properly informed.

"New Yorkers were put at risk, and taxpayers were stuck with the bill and that's unacceptable," said Mayor Bloomberg. "This is another step in the City's continuing litigation effort to recoup the millions of dollars in overcharges by pharmaceutical companies to the Medicaid program for prescription drugs, and to protect the safety and health of New Yorkers. Drug companies are on notice that engaging in this type of behavior just isn't worth it."

"Today's suit demonstrates an important new State and City partnership to fight Medicaid fraud, and I am happy to work with Mayor Bloomberg to help hold Merck accountable. Merck's irresponsible and duplicitous conduct endangered the health of New Yorkers and wasted our tax dollars. As alleged in the complaint, even as evidence was piling up showing just how dangerous this drug was, Merck put profits above all else and put thousands at risk by continuing to push Vioxx inappropriately on doctors and patients," Cuomo said. "We will hold accountable those who put our families at risk, and we will fight back when New Yorkers are harmed and fleeced."

"Merck was entrusted with the health and well-being of New Yorkers. To betray that trust by hiding the risks of Vioxx from the public is beyond unacceptable. We will hold them accountable for betraying this trust and endangering lives," said Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, whose office will be prosecuting the case together with the Office of the Attorney General. Read more at: NYC.gov

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