Vioxx trial to be broadcast on television

Despite strong opposition from Merck regarding broadcasting the Vioxx trial in Humeston case, it is very likely that TV cameras will be allowed in the court room. Judge Carol Higbee rejected the compay's arguments in a decision today. The trial begins Monday morning in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

While Court TV was the one to make the request for live coverage of the trial, it is unclear who will actually carry the broadcast live. Several television channels have expressed interest in the broadcast, but at the time of publishing of this article, it was unclear which channel will carry the trial live and at what time. Court TV is scheduled to do a live feed on the Internet.

Apart from being able to block testimony by an ethics expert, Merck has essentially lost all its motions in pre-trial proceedings, including a request to block experts from testifying before the jury.