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" 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 . The privet bushes among the chopper-like notice-boards flowered , and in the streets where Oleron did his shopping the baskets of flower-women lined the kerbs . Watch the trial on Court TV Extra , get the latest updates and full coverage on Courttv.com and chat with Courttv.com 's Harriet Ryan and Harry Swartz-Turfle , live from Juneau , Alaska , where they are covering the trial .