No win, no fee claim news
20/01/2009

Compensation win for Vioxx claimant

A 72-year-old retired college lecturer has won a landmark no win, no fee claim against the drug company Merck for side effects caused by the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx.

Although in good health before taking the drug - he took it as a participant in an unpaid clinical trial - the Cambridgeshire man suffered from numerous side effects, including fits, blood poisoning and a collapsed colon; he also went on to develop an incurable intestinal disease.

His no win, no fee claim has now been settled with the award of £28,000 personal injury compensation, with a further £100,000 award for legal costs.

It is thought that there are a further 450 Vioxx-related claimants in the UK who are still waiting to have their claims resolved; experts predict that the combined compensation bill for these could eventually reach £12 million.

Speaking after the settlement of his no win, no fee claim the pensioner told press, "I'm not happy with the sum of money but I'm thrilled at the principle.

"I've taken on a major company and won.

"Over the last few years I have been bullied by an unscrupulous drug company that tried to avoid all responsibility."