A jury in the US has found the pharmaceutical company Merck liable for the death of a Texas man in 2001 by placing its controversial 'Vioxx' arthritis painkiller on sale.
The jury awarded more than $250 million to Robert Ernst's wife, Carol, in punitive damages for mental anguish and loss of companionship.
The case was the first of more than 4,00 civil actions alleging the company had concealed the cardiac and stroke risks of the widely used drug.
Merck has said it would be appealing the ruling.
