AP: Breaking | Alerts | World | US | Politics | Business | Entertainment | Life | Science | Odd | Sports | Tech
A Breakdown of Damages in 1st Vioxx Trial
Breakdown of damages awarded by a Texas jury in the first Vioxx-
related lawsuit to go to trial in the country. The $253.4 million
award is likely to be cut to no more than $26.1 million because Texas
law caps punitive damages:
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ECONOMIC: $450,000
_ Past and future lost pay, maintenance, support and household services, such as chores, that Carol Ernst probably would have received from Robert Ernst had he not died in May 2001 after taking Vioxx for eight months to alleviate pain in his hands.
NON-ECONOMIC: $24 million.
_ Past and future loss of companionship.
_ Past and future mental anguish.
PUNITIVE: $229 million.
_ That amount is likely to be reduced because state law caps punitive damages at twice the amount of economic damages and up to $750,000 on top of non-economic damages. Under that formula, $1.65 million is the maximum punitive damages that Carol Ernst could receive.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
