Felicia Garza, Individually And On Behalf Of The Estate Of Leonel Garza, Sr., Leonel Garza, Jr., Luis Jaime Garza, Laura Guadalupe Garza, and Gloria Garza, Individually, And As Heirs To The Estate Of Leonel Garza, Sr. v. Michael D. Evans, M.D., Juan Evans, M.D., Juan D. Posada, M.D., And Merck & Co., Cause No. 7:05-CV-00017, In The 229th Judicial District Court Of Starr County, Texas

Jaime A. Saenz was one of five trial counsel representing Merck in this case alleging that the pain reliever Vioxx caused the fatal heart attack of a 71-year old Starr County resident.  The decedent and his family members were represented by four different attorneys.  Trial began on January 24, 2006, and because the 229th Judicial District Court is a court where the judge “rides circuit" among Starr, Jim Hogg, and Duval Counties, was conducted in one-week increments over four months.  At the conclusion of the evidence, Plaintiffs’ counsel asked the jury to award a total of $1 billion in damages.  After a day and a half of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict on April 24, 2006, of $8 million in actual damages and $25 million in punitive damages.