LANSING – With today's AP report that Merck & Co. will pay $4.85 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits over the painkiller Vioxx in one of the largest civil cases ever, House Democrats slammed Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester Hills) for sitting on packages spearheaded by the House aimed at protecting Michigan residents who have been harmed or killed by these dangerous drugs.
"Victims in every state across the country are able to share in this $5 billion settlement – victims in every state except for Michigan. That's not right," said State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens). "Michigan is the only state in the country that gives big drug companies a free ride when their products harm or kill, and the Michigan Senate has failed our citizens by refusing to take action to protect consumers. Too many people in our state are suffering from the consequences of taking Vioxx – yet our citizens are still denied access to justice and the nearly $5 billion Merck has agreed to pay out due to the Republican-led Senate's unconscionable inaction. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop should be ashamed that he could not rise above partisan politics and work with House Democrats to enact our plan that safeguards the health and safety of Michigan's residents."
Merck faced about 26,600 lawsuits representing 47,000 plaintiffs throughout the United States, plus about 265 potential class action cases, filed by people or family members who claimed the drug proved fatal or injured its users. The agreement covers cases filed in federal and state courts, and the payouts will vary, depending on injuries and the length of time that Vioxx was taken, according to a Nov. 9 AP report.
However, Michigan residents will not have an opportunity to file claims due to the Senate's failure to act on a package of bills that passed the House last February. The House Democratic plan would end the total immunity enjoyed by the big drug companies in Michigan and allow consumers to hold big drug companies accountable when dangerous drugs such as Vioxx harm or kill.
"The big drug industry and its cronies have engaged in unscrupulous behavior by blocking every attempt to get these bills before the House floor for years," Miller said. "Senator Bishop has proven to be the drug industry's biggest ally, putting politics over people and party interests over safety."