Fourteen securities lawsuits filed against Merck & Co. Inc. will be consolidated into one action that will be heard by Judge Stanley Chesler of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey in Trenton, according to a ruling by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The Washington-based panel, led by federal Judge William Terrell Hodges, ruled that New Jersey was the appropriate venue because documents and witnesses will most likely be located at Merck's headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N.J., and that New Jersey is convenient to the parties and witnesses.
New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who has sued Merck on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, Albany, was pleased with the decision, according to John Chartier, spokesman for Mr. Hevesi, who is the sole trustee of the $117.5 billion fund.
Tony Plohoros, director of media relations at Merck, said company officials were pleased the cases were consolidated and will be heard in New Jersey.
