ATTORNEYS SUING MERCK & CO. INC. FOR THE DEATH OF A 71-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO TOOK VIOXX ASKED A TEXAS JURY ON THURSDAY TO AWARD MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN DAMAGES, BUT MERCK LAWYERS SAID THE PHARMACEUTICALS COMPANY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING, REUTERS REPORTED. THE DAMAGE REQUEST INCLUDES $22 MILLION FOR MENTAL ANGUISH AND PERSONAL LOSS AND $1 BILLION IN PUNITIVE DAMAGES, WHICH PUNISH A DEFENDANT FOR WRONG BEHAVIOR. THE LATTER ARE CAPPED AT ONLY $750,000 BY TEXAS LAW, MEANING THE PLAINTIFFS COULD COLLECT NO MORE THAN THAT EVEN IF THE JURY AWARDED THE FULL $1 BILLION. THE TWO SIDES SQUARED OFF IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF THE LATEST LAWSUIT CHARGING THAT MERCK DID NOT DISCLOSE THE DANGERS OF ITS NOW-WITHDRAWN PAIN MEDICINE AND A MAN DIED AS A RESULT. --More 2346 Local Time 2046 GMT
