Ex-Coyote sues pain drug's maker
Web Posted: 06/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Guillermo Contreras and Richard A. Marini
Express-News Staff Writers
He came back even after a broken nose, separated shoulder, cracked ribs, bruised kidney and torn tendons.
But, according to a lawsuit, a little beige pill permanently sidelined the man who donned a furry costume and entertained throngs of San Antonio Spurs faithful.
Tim Derk, who was the Spurs Coyote for 21 years, is suing Merck & Co., the maker of Vioxx, claiming the prescription drug caused a stroke he suffered in February 2004 that forced him out of the Coyote costume for good.
The suit — filed May 25 in state court in San Antonio — alleges the New Jersey-based company knew Vioxx doubled the chance for heart attacks and strokes if used long-term, but hid the information so it could keep selling the pain reliever. The drug often is prescribed for arthritis and acute pain.
In an e-mailed statement, the drug maker vowed to "vigorously defend" itself against the claims.
Derk said Wednesday that he had been taking Vioxx daily for more than two years as an anti-inflammatory pain reliever before it was pulled from the market last year. He said his doctors and lawyers told him Vioxx was at the root of his career-ending stroke.
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