Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The big drug maker was cleared of responsibility for the heart attack of a 71-year-old retired construction manager who took the painkiller Vioxx for about two years. The 12-person Los Angeles jury determined that while Vioxx posed knowable risks, those risks didn't present a substantial danger to users. So far, Merck has won five Vioxx trials and lost three.
More by Mark Lacter:
American-US Air settlement with DOJ includes small tweak at LAXSocal housing market going nowhere fast
Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Another rugged quarter for Tribune Co. papers
How does Stanford compete with the big boys?
Those awful infographics that promise to explain and only distort
Best to low-ball today's employment report
Further fallout from airport shootings
Crazy opening for Twitter*
Should Twitter be valued at $18 billion?
Recent stories:
Siri versus Hawaiian pidgin (video)Letter from Down Under: Welcome to the Homogenocene
One last Florida photo
Signs of Saturday: No refund
'I Am Woman,' hear them roar
New at LA Observed
On the Politics Page
Go to Politics
Sign up for daily email from LA Observed
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.