Vioxx Jurors to Merck: Put Safety Before Sales

Jurors who found Merck & Co. liable in 2005 for the death of a Texas man said they expected pharmaceutical companies to get the message from their $253.4 million verdict that consumers need safe drugs.

"They needed to be held accountable for putting a drug out there that shouldn't be out there," said Stacy Smith, a 21-year-old child care provider who stood with the majority in the 10-2 vote in favor of the man's widow, Carol Ernst....read more.

Smoking Gun Documents: Vioxx Dangers When Merck field representatives reported doctors were concerned about Vioxx side effects, the company prepared a list of disarming answers to the questions doctors asked most frequently. It was called "Vioxx dodge ball."

Tens of Thousands of Deaths Potentially Associated with Vioxx Dr. David Graham of the FDA testifies to the Senate Finance Committee that Vioxx is associated with up to 139,000 "excess" heart attacks, of which 30 percent to 40 percent were fatal...

Juries Hold Developers Accountable for Shoddy Home Construction

Over the past decade, The Oregonian found that trouble-prone materials and shoddy construction have harmed numerous Oregon families. Simply put, shoddy construction has led to rot and mold that  are eating away at a small but growing number of today's homes and condos.  The power of juries has repeatedly has held developers accountable, but preventive measures are sorely needed to protect consumers. For Renee and Paul Haynes, a jury provided the only help they got in holding their builder accountable for the home that was unlivable.

Health Care Accountability: Dr. Jayant Patel's disturbing record of negligence revealed through civil actions

Reporters delved into court records to piece together the long and disturbing record of Kaiser surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel, as well as the failure of Kaiser and state authorities to protect patients from Oregon's most notorious doctor in recent memory. 

The Oregon Jury Project advocates for a system of improved accountability to weed out dangerous doctors and an open system of information so patients can readily learn about the safety records of their health care providers.

Hospital system agrees to settlement with uninsured

Hundreds of uninsured Oregonians who were charged top rates by Legacy Health System hospitals could get refunds under a class action settlement agreed to in July.   The class action challenged hospitals' practice of charging high rates to the uninsured, who are often the least able to afford care. Read more.