Merck Zostavax Plaintiff Ends Shingles Suit Appeal (Correct)

The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed an appeal to reinstate a patient’s lawsuit over Merck & Co.‘s shingles vaccine Zostavax after the plaintiff filed a voluntary dismissal.

The Third Circuit granted plaintiff Joseph Bockus’ motion Friday. Bockus’ suit was one of more than a thousand consolidated suits by patients who had alleged the shot caused them to get shingles.

• Judge Harvey Bartle III of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissed the consolidated litigation because the plaintiffs couldn’t produce evidence linking the vaccine to their disease
• Bartle granted summary judgment for ...