Merck Settles Fosamax Jaw Decay Lawsuit while Femur Fracture Cases Continue to Mount

Sept. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- After extensive litigation, Merck, the manufacturer of the osteoporosis drug, Fosamax has finally agreed to a confidential settlement agreement with Plaintiff Shirley Boles. Ms. Boles took Fosamax and suffered osteonecrosis of the jaw and was awarded $8 million in damages by a jury-which a judge reduced to $1.5 million.  (Boles v. Merck & Co., Inc., 06 Civ. 9455 (JFK).  Rather than accept the reduced award, Ms. Boles was preparing for another trial, however, Merck decided to settle confidentially rather than face another trial with potentially high damages.

In addition to the Fosamax jaw decay litigation, Merck also faces hundreds, if not thousands of lawsuits filed by patients who took Fosamax and sustained non-traumatic femur fractures.  (MDL 2243).  These plaintiffs suffered a fracture of the femur, the strongest bone in the body, from low-impact activities such as rising from a chair or stepping off of a curb. Unfortunately most of these injured plaintiffs required surgery with extensive rehabilitation to repair the fractures. Most plaintiffs insist they would have never take Fosamax if Merck had disclosed the risks associated with the long-term use of Fosamax.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. continues to offer free, nationwide, confidential consultations to anyone who was injured by Fosamax by calling toll free 1-800-856-6405 or by going to www.ennislaw.com and completing an online case evaluation form.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. is a nationwide law firm with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Washington D.C. that concentrates its practice in mass torts and represents individuals against pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers.