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Over the course of the semester , it will be our collective mission to articulate and probe those questions . Prouds - - Collections care , and the growing idea of taking a collective approach to collections care and storage ; museum collaborations ; the more central role that culture plays in economic group and tourism ; closer contact with policy - and decision-makers . In early discussions , leaders within the region 's cultural heritage community insisted that they and their colleagues were ready to be convened to develop a collective vision . " I would be surprised if Merck would just cave [ and settle cases ] simply based on having to have lawyers run in a lot of different directions , " said Deborah Barnard , a Boston lawyer specializing in product liability cases.But New York attorney Michael London , who is handling more than 100 Vioxx lawsuits but is not on Lanier 's team , said Lanier 's strategy is a good one because it makes things less predictable for Merck.With nearly all the lawsuits so far filed either in New Jersey or federal court and just two judges overseeing those cases now , London said , Merck can expect consistent rulings and know when its cases will be scheduled for trial.Merck can automatically move to federal court any class action cases , although that 's a tiny minority so far , and any cases filed in state courts outside of New Jersey.If the plaintiff in the state court also names a second defendant , such as a doctor or pharmacy , in that plaintiff 's home state , usually the case cannot be moved to federal court . In Texas , punitive damages are capped at twice the amount of economic damages — lost pay — and up to $ 750,000 on top of non-economic damages , which are comprised of mental anguish and loss of companionship.The case drew national attention from pharmaceutical companies , lawyers , consumers , stock analysts and arbitragers as a signal of what lies ahead for Merck , which has vowed to fight the more than 4,200 state and federal Vioxx-related lawsuits pending across the country . The goal of this Future Search meeting as defined by the planning committee was " to develop a collective vision to increase the appreciation , utilization , and care of our region 's cultural heritage resources . " To do this , institutions must be willing to build relationships with each other and to find collective , regional solutions . If the panel decides to award Carol Ernst economic damages for her husband 's lost earnings and non-economic damages for mental anguish and loss of companionship , jurors also can consider whether to tack on punitive damages.In Texas , punitive damages are capped at two times the amount of economic damages and up to $ 750,000 atop non-economic damages.In all , 15 witnesses testified during the trial 40 miles south of Houston , some by videotaped deposition . Two constables stood at the broken gate of the narrow entrance-alley , keeping folk back . " We expect to oppose any attempt to splinter , to disrupt the operation of the MDL , " Frazier told the analysts , referring to multidistrict litigation in federal court.In the MDL , pretrial evidence-gathering for thousands of Vioxx suits in federal courts is consolidated to save time and prevent Merck officials from having to give repeated depositions.Merck outside counsel Ted Mayer said the company also prefers keeping cases in the MDL because that gives Merck consistent rulings on standards for admitting evidence and for expert testimony.He added that Merck has plenty of legal teams to handle simultaneous trials.Evidence rules in state courts , on the other hand , generally allow plaintiffs more leeway.Lanier said Merck expected to fight most Vioxx cases in federal courts in the MDL , but he expects to have 10 legal teams running state trials nearly continuously , tying up Merck resources.Lanier said his lawyers ' group already has about 20,000 potential lawsuits , with only about 10 percent filed so far.The lawyers will share depositions , documents , legal strategies and focus group opinions , according to Lanier , who in August won a $ 253.4 million verdict for the widow of a Texas Vioxx user in the first case to come to trial.That amount will be reduced to about $ 26 million because Texas caps punitive damages.Merck shares rose 82 cents , or 3.1 percent , to $ 27 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.Whitehouse Station-based Merck withdrew Vioxx from the market in September 2004 after research showed long-term use of the drug doubled risk of heart attack and stroke . We 'll see ten plays hand-picked by noted London theater critic Michael Billington , and possibly an opera or a ballet . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had suggested such changes in October 2001 in light of a 2000 study that showed Vioxx users suffered five times as many heart attacks as those who took the older painkiller naproxen , sold under the brand name Aleve.In Texas , punitive damages are capped at twice the amount of economic damages - - such as lost wages - - and up to $ 750,000 on top of non-economic damages , such as mental anguish and loss of companionship .