Jurors Argue, Chairs Fly, Mistrial Called

A federal judge John F. Keenan declared a mistrial in a case investigating whether Merck & Co.'s osteoporosis drug called Fosamax causes severe dental and jaw problems. Why? Well, the AP reports, "Deliberations deteriorated to the point that lawyers waiting in the courtroom could hear screaming coming from the jury room and one female juror said another juror threw a chair at her." The trial had been going on for a month in Manhattan and the higher-ups of the drug industry as well as liability lawyers have been keeping a watchful eye on the trial, as it's the first of nearly 900 state and federal cases against the company.

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By Michelle Geslani in News on September 11, 2009 5:02 PM

Comments [rss]

JacqueMehoff

I due up for jury duty this year and still no call.

sent in the questionaire months ago.

or, a ringer hired to not get a settlement. isn't that the John cusack role?

Mr Mel

Have you been drinking again.

JacqueMehoff

sir, I can't even afford to buy cheap beer.

Mr Mel

I think this was in a John Grisham novel. There was a ringer on the jury, hired by the plaintiffs lawyers to get a big settlement for their clients.

Bort

I don't get why they have normal juries for technical trials such as this. Shouldn't we have doctors deciding this?? What does chair-throwing Gino V from Bay Ridge know about pharmaceuticals??