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American Morning
Vioxx Lawsuits; In Son's Footsteps; '90-Second Pop'
Aired November 15, 2004 - 07:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And it is just about half past the hour here on AMERICAN MORNING. Bill and Soledad are off this morning. I'm Rick Sanchez.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.
In just a few minutes, we're going to give you an update on the situation in Falluja. The military says the city has been liberated, but that doesn't mean the fighting has stopped. We're going to have more on that.
Also, we'll get the story of one soldier's dedication to service in the most difficult of circumstances. You won't believe this story.
SANCHEZ: Also, how hard will the drug company, Merck, be hit now that the inevitable Vioxx lawsuits have begun? We're going to give you a report on that. Also, we're going to look at the drug company's aggressive strategy to try and defend itself as well.
COLLINS: For now, though, we're going to get another check on what's "Now in the News" with Daryn Kagan at the CNN center.
First, off to the Middle East -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, "Now in the News."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat is condemning a shooting incident in Gaza, but says it was not an assassination attempt. Yesterday, masked gunmen burst into a tent, where former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had gathered to mourn the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. At least two security guards were killed, some 10 others were wounded. Abbas escaped unharmed.
Some relatives of Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi have apparently been set free. Sources close to the Allawi family say that kidnappers released two female relatives, but kidnappers are continuing to hold one of Allawi's cousins captive. They are demanding the release of all Iraqi prisoners and an end to the fighting in Falluja.
Back here in the U.S., Vice President Dick Cheney is back home, recovering after undergoing some medical tests. The vice president was hospitalized on Saturday after experiencing shortness of breath and a cough. Given Cheney's history of heart trouble, doctors performed three hours of tests. His cardiologist says that Cheney probably has an upper respiratory infection, but no heart-related problems. Cell phone users are getting a little break on their next phone bills. Verizon is cutting 40 cents off its charges. Sprint will slash fees by 25 cents. The changes are linked to lower costs for phone number portability. That is the federal order that allows users to keep their old phone number when they switch cell phone carriers.
Rick, can you hear me now?
SANCHEZ: I can hear you now.
COLLINS: Can you hear me now?
SANCHEZ: Thank you, partner.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Hey, keep my seat warm there, will you?
KAGAN: It's right here for when you come back.
SANCHEZ: So to speak.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Pharmaceutical giant Merck pulled Vioxx from the market in September because of links to heart attacks and strokes that we first reported here. Well, now thousands of former Vioxx users and their families are considering lawsuits. No surprise.
Chris Huntington has one Vioxx user's story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get the back, come on! Oh, what a save by Tallas!
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Robbie Tallas could have been a poster boy for a classic Canadian dream-come-true. He was a professional hockey player before he was 20, played six years in the NHL. Now, Tallas has a better shot at being a poster boy for Vioxx lawsuits. His career came to a frightening halt after a game last December.
ROBBIE TALLAS, FORMER VIOXX USER: I just collapsed and starting breathing really loud. At that point, my left arm went numb, my right arm went numb, and then my right arm went numb. So I turned to my wife and I said, 'I think I'm having a heart attack here.'
HUNTINGTON: Tallas and his doctors could not figure out why a 30-year-old pro athlete in peak condition who had never smoked, never taken steroids, with no family history of heart disease, would have a heart attack. Tallas believes the answer came to him while he and his wife watched a news report about the Vioxx recall.
TALLAS: And all of a sudden, kind of putting the pieces together that there's a connection here. HUNTINGTON: Merck's own study linked Vioxx to heart attacks in patients who had taken the drug for more than 18 months. Tallas had taken Vioxx two and a half years, sometimes twice a day, for the aches and pains that come from catching hockey pucks for a living.
TALLAS: It worked well on my shoulder. The trainer would come and start at the back of the bus and make his way to the front handing out the little sample packets of Vioxx to each player.
HUNTINGTON: Tallas and his lawyers now plan to sue Merck, believing that Vioxx led to his heart attack.
STEVE JAFFE, ATTORNEY FOR TALLAS: The only intervening cause that we've come up in our investigation is two and a half years of consistent daily use of Vioxx.
HUNTINGTON: A recent FDA study found that Vioxx caused nearly 28,000 severe heart attacks, many of them fatal. Merck insists it always disclosed what it knew about the dangers of Vioxx, such as in April 2002, when at the FDA's request, Merck warned doctors that Vioxx side effects included -- quote -- "serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes."
KEN FRAZIER, MERCK GENERAL COUNSEL: What we did at the time was appropriate given what was actually known about the drug. And I think our communications were fair and balanced based on the available clinical evidence.
HUNTINGTON: But since the warning in 2002, Merck continued to dismiss studies, based primarily on methodology that found Vioxx raised the risk of heart disease. That is until Merck's scientists came to the same conclusion this fall, and that's when Merck pulled Vioxx off the market.
FRAZIER: We felt that we did the right thing. And as a result, we intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
HUNTINGTON (on camera): So far, fewer than 400 Vioxx-related lawsuits have been filed on behalf of about 1,000 plaintiffs. But the number of plaintiffs could easily run into the tens of thousands when you consider that, according to Merck, more than 20 million people took Vioxx at some point in the past five years. One of them is a former professional hockey goalie who just wants to get back in the game.
Chris Huntington, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Here's a programming note for you. Tomorrow, right here on AMERICAN MORNING, we're going to be speaking with Merck chairman, president and CEO, Raymond Gilmartin.
COLLINS: American forces are still fighting in Falluja, hitting isolated pockets of insurgent remaining in what is described as a liberated city. Thirty-eight U.S. and six Iraqis have been killed, 275 Americans wounded in the weeklong battle. The military says 1,000 to 2,000 insurgent are dead, and 1,000 other people now detained.
But as the Falluja operation winds down, attacks are taking place in other places. Four U.S. troops were wounded in Baqubah today. There was a bombing -- a car bombing, that is, and a police station attack in Mosul over the weekend. A railroad bridge was bombed near the oil refinery town of Vijee (ph), and several explosions and gunfire heard in Baghdad just yesterday.
Specialist Justin Johnson was killed in Iraq seven months ago. Now, his father is about to train for duty there. Joseph Johnson and his wife, Jan, were with us last April to talk about pictures that had just been published, telling AMERICAN MORNING that the images of coffins helped Americans understand the sacrifice of soldiers like their son, Justin.
Joseph and Jan Johnson are with us again today from Lyerly, Georgia.
Good morning to both of you. Thanks for being here once again, you guys.
JAN JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Good morning.
JOSEPH JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Good morning.
COLLINS: I want to ask you first and foremost, as we have said, it's only been seven months since you lost Justin. How are you feeling today?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Angry. Very mad at the terrorists. I really don't know much to say other than that. I feel like we're still doing the right thing over there. And we don't want the boys to come home yet, because if they do, we feel like that they would have died for nothing. They need to stay and get the job done.
COLLINS: Mr. Johnson, you mentioned anger and that the guys are doing the right thing over there. Is that why you're going back?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am. I'm actually looking forward to being in Iraq, but I'm not looking forward to leaving my family and all of the training before we go. But as far as actually getting in country, I'm looking forward to it.
COLLINS: In fact, you will quite possibly be putting your life on the line, just as your son did.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: What are the thoughts that go through your mind when you think about that?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes. Well, I really don't think about it right now. We had some other people ask us the other day if I was nervous or scared. And I said, no, not right now, but I'm sure the time will come. COLLINS: Mrs. Johnson, I imagine you are feeling an array of emotions right now. As you consider this next phase, if you will, what are your thoughts?
JAN JOHNSON: Well, I'm proud that my husband feels the way he does, as far as wanting to go and serve his country, even at his age. But at the same time, I don't want him going, because we've got grandchildren that I would like to know that they're going to see him when he -- you know, as they grow up.
COLLINS: In fact, I know you have...
JAN JOHNSON: And while he's gone.
COLLINS: That's right. I know you have a young granddaughter, who was actually named after your son, Justin. Some people would say, Mr. Johnson, that your family has sacrificed enough. What do you say to them?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Well, they're probably right. But I've wanted to do this for a long time, as far as being able to do something for my country. And I found out a year and a half ago that I was still young enough to come back in. And so I jumped on it, hoping to get deployed.
COLLINS: It's been 22 years that you've been out of the military.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: What is your greatest concern as you go back now at this age?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Right now, hurting my knee again. I get hurt in training eight months ago or so -- nine months ago. And my knee is still a little bit weak, but I hope to get it in shape before I actually get over there.
COLLINS: Well, again, it's wonderful talking to the both of you. We appreciate your time here this morning, and it gives us a lot to think about today as we watch some of the Marines from Falluja, we talk to a little bit later on, who tell us the same thing that you do. They want to go back. Something hard for some of us to understand.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: Again, we appreciate your time so very much, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Thanks again.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Thank you.
JAN JOHNSON: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." He's going to tell you which way the market could be heading this morning.
SANCHEZ: Also, the so-called bride Bridezilla (ph) ties the knot. Is that mean? We didn't make that term, by the way. The tabs did. How did Star Jones earn such a tough reputation? The 90-second poppers dive in on this, your AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Let's start with Jack and see what the "Question of the Day" is on this day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, sir.
Convicted murderer Scott Peterson facing either death or life without parole after being convicted of killing his wife and unborn son. Legal experts are divided over what the jury will decide, although once they got the jury -- the composition of the jury sorted out, it didn't take them too long to figure out whether they wanted to convict him or not. They did that real quick.
Some of the e-mails we're getting about whether or not he should be executed.
Joyce in Glen Allen, Virginia: "First, I thought he ought get the death sentence. Now that he's been convicted, I think he should spend his life behind bars and live every day with the thoughts of his actions. Since he wanted freedom from Laci so badly, it's only fitting that he had the total experience of not having any freedom."
Gisele in New London, Wisconsin: "I'm not a firm believer in the death penalty, especially when it comes to crimes against the helpless. Why not just give him a life sentence and instead of putting him into protected confinement, let him go into the general population and meet some of his neighbors. He might even learn a few new dance steps."
Mike in Orlando, Florida: "Yes, and make it quick. I don't know of anyone who would give their tax dollars to Mr. Peterson for him to have three squares a day, a roof over his head and clothes on his back for the rest of his life."
And Leo in Glasgow, Kentucky, writes: "No death penalty for Scott. Put him in general population with a natural life sentence. That way he can find out what it means when someone says "Who's your daddy?" A lifetime of being someone's prison wife is appropriate punishment for such scum. Death would be too easy."
The general tone of the e-mails is there's not a whole lot of sympathy for old Scott out there this morning.
SANCHEZ: Did you get anybody who likes him? Did anybody write saying...
CAFFERTY: A couple of people said, you know, we're not sure he did it. The evidence was only circumstantial. Those people obviously don't know what the hell they're talking about. COLLINS: Well, it will be interesting to see now on the penalty phase, you know, who goes to the stand and who speaks on his behalf.
CAFFERTY: Yes, somebody said Amber Frey, they might put her on the stand, because she's opposed to the death penalty.
COLLINS: We're going to find that out.
CAFFERTY: I wonder if his lawyer is going to bother to show up for this part of the trial.
SANCHEZ: It would be a first.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, Jack, thanks so much.
We want to go ahead now and get a preview of the markets. And with his all-important NFL football tally from the weekend, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Thank you very much.
Let's talk about last week first of all. The post-election rally continues, Heidi.
COLLINS: Good.
SERWER: Nasdaq, in particular, is feeling that, up 2.3 percent. The Dow up over 151 points last week. Friday was a big day.
A couple of deals this morning we're going to be talking about. Dow Jones, that's the publisher of "The Wall Street Journal," is buying CBS Market Watch for half a million dollars if you ever go to that Web site.
COLLINS: Star Jones or Dow Jones?
SERWER: Not Star. Star has got other things. She's got other fish to fry this week.
CAFFERTY: Good, Heidi.
SERWER: Very good. It's hard to come back after that. Another deal.
COLLINS: Sorry.
SERWER: Another a very serious deal, Heidi. Very serious. You remember when we were in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, we talked about Kraft looking to unload its Lifesavers and curiously strong Altoid mint division. It did so.
COLLINS: I remember that.
SERWER: Selling it to cross-town rival, Wrigley, for $1.5 billion. They probably settled that deal at the Winnetka Country Club, don't you think?
All right, let's talk about football here, because football is very important, especially when you see these results for the week. Yes. Oh, look here, nine and four. Now people might think that's a little strange because the three teams that I picked to win on air -- the Redskins, Browns and Falcons -- all lost.
COLLINS: We think that's strange.
SERWER: But believe me, these results are audited by the law firm of Dewy, Cheatem and Howe. And I swear they're -- no. Of the four game I got wrong, three of them were on air. But believe me, I did get nine others right.
COLLINS: Well, it's very impressive.
SERWER: Well, thank you. And you did pretty well yourself.
COLLINS: I was lucky.
SERWER: You did very well.
COLLINS: All right, Andy.
SERWER: You're not lucky. You're good.
COLLINS: Thanks so much.
Still to come now, Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake got into it with paparazzi last week. Now that run-in may come back to haunt them. "90-Second Pop" ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's just another manic Monday, which means it's time for some "90-Second Pop." Our pop culture pundits this morning. Oh, we're calling you pundits now.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I like it.
COLLINS: Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent. Sara Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Nice to see you guys. Let's get right into this Star Jones- Bridezilla (ph) thing.
BERNARD: Oh!
COLLINS: OK. So she finally gets married.
BERNARD: Finally!
COLLINS: She's been talking about it for months and months and months. BERNARD: I'm so happy it's over.
COLLINS: And now she's Star Reynolds.
BERNARD: She's Star Reynolds, I know. Can you believe she changed her name? Well, we talked about her being a Bridezilla (ph) for a while now. Just to recap. The wedding was sponsored by Continental Airlines.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: She got donations in the form of the bridesmaids' dresses, tuxedos, invitations. But the thing that we haven't really mentioned is that other people, other celebrities, have done things to reduce the cost of their weddings before. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas sold their pictures for $1.8 million. Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter got a million from ABC actually to air their wedding.
COLLINS: I thought mine was good with half-a-million.
BERNARD: So, I mean, she took it to the extreme. But there are other celebrities who have done this.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: And I just wanted to say...
COLLINS: But?
BERNARD: ... I think that she's gotten it backwards, because the real divas, they don't let anyone in. It's like Madonna, you know, Jennifer Aniston.
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: They release one photo and that's it. She is just -- it's like, you know, you don't want to be part of a club that will have you.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Yes.
BERNARD: She's just invited everyone to look at her. And there's no fun in that. It's too easy.
SIGESMUND: I have to say there has been a distinct Liza and David like feeling to this wedding.
COLLINS: Oh, very good.
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: Good one!
SIGESMUND: And I want to know if there are any sponsors lined up for the divorce proceedings.
TOURE: Whoa!
SIGESMUND: You might want to get in line.
COLLINS: All right, we've got to move on, guys. We've got a lot to get to today. "US Weekly" broke the story about Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake and this tiff that they got into outside -- in Hollywood...
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: ... with these photographers who they say ambushed them in a dark alley. The photographer said no way, this was assault.
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: So which is it?
SIGESMUND: Well, here's the latest. You know, we talked...
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SIGESMUND: I know both sides of it. The latest thing that's happened is that on Friday the two photographers filed suit against Justin and Cameron. Now, remember, Justin and Cameron said they were accosted by these guys. But the lawsuit says they stood away from them for about -- you know, they stood 10 feet away from them until Cameron Diaz came at them, allegedly hit the guy in the neck, allegedly tripped him and stole the camera, which we all know. And they also allege...
COLLINS: So Cameron got very upset about that.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
COLLINS: Yes.
SIGESMUND: They also alleged that Justin Timberlake got in that photographer's face and said, "What are you going to do? What are you going to do?" And then ran away. So it'll be interesting to see...
BERNARD: Ran away is the key part.
SIGESMUND: Well, I mean, they...
TOURE: If you got beat up by a girl and little Justin Timberlake and you want the world to know, I'm not suing. I'm going to keep it very quiet.
BERNARD: It was very "Charlie's Angels" of her, you have to admit.
COLLINS: Yes, it was probably was. Let's get to something a little bit more serious now. Russell Jones, otherwise known as ODB, died suddenly. He was 35 years old.
TOURE: He would have been 36 today.
COLLINS: Really? BERNARD: Very scary.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: What happened?
TOURE: Very sad. I mean, he had chest pains and fell out in the studio, in the recording studio. It's very sad. I mean, he's a father of 13, a really important rapper. I mean, his fans will remember him from his Mariah Carey song 10 years ago, his Marissa (ph) work, "Brooklyn Zoo." I mean, this is a really great important rapper, and he will be missed. And...
BERNARD: The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was really interesting when it started, right?
TOURE: Yes, yes.
BERNARD: Because it was like this collective of nine emcees, right?
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: And they did this thing where they were going to sort of help each other creatively and financially.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: Each one got solo deals. So they were incredibly important.
SIGESMUND: And he got a nice shout-out last night at the AMAs. You know, people were talking about him. I'm sure that the mood there was very solemn considering how important he's been to that community.
COLLINS: Sure.
SIGESMUND: But the AMAs were very celebratory as well of other artists, like Usher, who really cleaned up, and Outkast, which did really, really well at the event.
COLLINS: And then there was -- I've got to mention it. You know what I'm going to say, right? Anna Nicole?
BERNARD: Yes!
COLLINS: What was up with that?
BERNARD: I mean, Nicole...
COLLINS: I guess we've seen here like this before.
BERNARD: Showing off her new svelte figure.
COLLINS: If she could have spoken, it might have been OK, I guess. But yes.
TOURE: I know, like, half the people who tuned into the AMAs said, how come "Desperate Housewives" isn't on?
BERNARD: That's what I said.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: But I think this also showcased Jimmy Kimmel. He was the host. He did a fantastic job.
COLLINS: He was funny, yes.
BERNARD: So he's kind of moving into a new direction. Maybe we'll see him at the Academy Awards one day.
COLLINS: We'll have to see. Hey, guys, thanks so much. A lot to get through today. Toure, Sarah and B.J., thanks, as always.
Back over to you -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: The day's top stories are straight ahead, including reaction to the Scott Peterson verdict from -- are you ready for this -- Peterson's ex-mistress, Amber Frey. We're going to talk to Frey's attorney, that's Gloria Allred, only right here on your AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired November 15, 2004 - 07:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And it is just about half past the hour here on AMERICAN MORNING. Bill and Soledad are off this morning. I'm Rick Sanchez.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.
In just a few minutes, we're going to give you an update on the situation in Falluja. The military says the city has been liberated, but that doesn't mean the fighting has stopped. We're going to have more on that.
Also, we'll get the story of one soldier's dedication to service in the most difficult of circumstances. You won't believe this story.
SANCHEZ: Also, how hard will the drug company, Merck, be hit now that the inevitable Vioxx lawsuits have begun? We're going to give you a report on that. Also, we're going to look at the drug company's aggressive strategy to try and defend itself as well.
COLLINS: For now, though, we're going to get another check on what's "Now in the News" with Daryn Kagan at the CNN center.
First, off to the Middle East -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, "Now in the News."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat is condemning a shooting incident in Gaza, but says it was not an assassination attempt. Yesterday, masked gunmen burst into a tent, where former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had gathered to mourn the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. At least two security guards were killed, some 10 others were wounded. Abbas escaped unharmed.
Some relatives of Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi have apparently been set free. Sources close to the Allawi family say that kidnappers released two female relatives, but kidnappers are continuing to hold one of Allawi's cousins captive. They are demanding the release of all Iraqi prisoners and an end to the fighting in Falluja.
Back here in the U.S., Vice President Dick Cheney is back home, recovering after undergoing some medical tests. The vice president was hospitalized on Saturday after experiencing shortness of breath and a cough. Given Cheney's history of heart trouble, doctors performed three hours of tests. His cardiologist says that Cheney probably has an upper respiratory infection, but no heart-related problems. Cell phone users are getting a little break on their next phone bills. Verizon is cutting 40 cents off its charges. Sprint will slash fees by 25 cents. The changes are linked to lower costs for phone number portability. That is the federal order that allows users to keep their old phone number when they switch cell phone carriers.
Rick, can you hear me now?
SANCHEZ: I can hear you now.
COLLINS: Can you hear me now?
SANCHEZ: Thank you, partner.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Hey, keep my seat warm there, will you?
KAGAN: It's right here for when you come back.
SANCHEZ: So to speak.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Pharmaceutical giant Merck pulled Vioxx from the market in September because of links to heart attacks and strokes that we first reported here. Well, now thousands of former Vioxx users and their families are considering lawsuits. No surprise.
Chris Huntington has one Vioxx user's story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get the back, come on! Oh, what a save by Tallas!
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Robbie Tallas could have been a poster boy for a classic Canadian dream-come-true. He was a professional hockey player before he was 20, played six years in the NHL. Now, Tallas has a better shot at being a poster boy for Vioxx lawsuits. His career came to a frightening halt after a game last December.
ROBBIE TALLAS, FORMER VIOXX USER: I just collapsed and starting breathing really loud. At that point, my left arm went numb, my right arm went numb, and then my right arm went numb. So I turned to my wife and I said, 'I think I'm having a heart attack here.'
HUNTINGTON: Tallas and his doctors could not figure out why a 30-year-old pro athlete in peak condition who had never smoked, never taken steroids, with no family history of heart disease, would have a heart attack. Tallas believes the answer came to him while he and his wife watched a news report about the Vioxx recall.
TALLAS: And all of a sudden, kind of putting the pieces together that there's a connection here. HUNTINGTON: Merck's own study linked Vioxx to heart attacks in patients who had taken the drug for more than 18 months. Tallas had taken Vioxx two and a half years, sometimes twice a day, for the aches and pains that come from catching hockey pucks for a living.
TALLAS: It worked well on my shoulder. The trainer would come and start at the back of the bus and make his way to the front handing out the little sample packets of Vioxx to each player.
HUNTINGTON: Tallas and his lawyers now plan to sue Merck, believing that Vioxx led to his heart attack.
STEVE JAFFE, ATTORNEY FOR TALLAS: The only intervening cause that we've come up in our investigation is two and a half years of consistent daily use of Vioxx.
HUNTINGTON: A recent FDA study found that Vioxx caused nearly 28,000 severe heart attacks, many of them fatal. Merck insists it always disclosed what it knew about the dangers of Vioxx, such as in April 2002, when at the FDA's request, Merck warned doctors that Vioxx side effects included -- quote -- "serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes."
KEN FRAZIER, MERCK GENERAL COUNSEL: What we did at the time was appropriate given what was actually known about the drug. And I think our communications were fair and balanced based on the available clinical evidence.
HUNTINGTON: But since the warning in 2002, Merck continued to dismiss studies, based primarily on methodology that found Vioxx raised the risk of heart disease. That is until Merck's scientists came to the same conclusion this fall, and that's when Merck pulled Vioxx off the market.
FRAZIER: We felt that we did the right thing. And as a result, we intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
HUNTINGTON (on camera): So far, fewer than 400 Vioxx-related lawsuits have been filed on behalf of about 1,000 plaintiffs. But the number of plaintiffs could easily run into the tens of thousands when you consider that, according to Merck, more than 20 million people took Vioxx at some point in the past five years. One of them is a former professional hockey goalie who just wants to get back in the game.
Chris Huntington, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Here's a programming note for you. Tomorrow, right here on AMERICAN MORNING, we're going to be speaking with Merck chairman, president and CEO, Raymond Gilmartin.
COLLINS: American forces are still fighting in Falluja, hitting isolated pockets of insurgent remaining in what is described as a liberated city. Thirty-eight U.S. and six Iraqis have been killed, 275 Americans wounded in the weeklong battle. The military says 1,000 to 2,000 insurgent are dead, and 1,000 other people now detained.
But as the Falluja operation winds down, attacks are taking place in other places. Four U.S. troops were wounded in Baqubah today. There was a bombing -- a car bombing, that is, and a police station attack in Mosul over the weekend. A railroad bridge was bombed near the oil refinery town of Vijee (ph), and several explosions and gunfire heard in Baghdad just yesterday.
Specialist Justin Johnson was killed in Iraq seven months ago. Now, his father is about to train for duty there. Joseph Johnson and his wife, Jan, were with us last April to talk about pictures that had just been published, telling AMERICAN MORNING that the images of coffins helped Americans understand the sacrifice of soldiers like their son, Justin.
Joseph and Jan Johnson are with us again today from Lyerly, Georgia.
Good morning to both of you. Thanks for being here once again, you guys.
JAN JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Good morning.
JOSEPH JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Good morning.
COLLINS: I want to ask you first and foremost, as we have said, it's only been seven months since you lost Justin. How are you feeling today?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Angry. Very mad at the terrorists. I really don't know much to say other than that. I feel like we're still doing the right thing over there. And we don't want the boys to come home yet, because if they do, we feel like that they would have died for nothing. They need to stay and get the job done.
COLLINS: Mr. Johnson, you mentioned anger and that the guys are doing the right thing over there. Is that why you're going back?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am. I'm actually looking forward to being in Iraq, but I'm not looking forward to leaving my family and all of the training before we go. But as far as actually getting in country, I'm looking forward to it.
COLLINS: In fact, you will quite possibly be putting your life on the line, just as your son did.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: What are the thoughts that go through your mind when you think about that?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes. Well, I really don't think about it right now. We had some other people ask us the other day if I was nervous or scared. And I said, no, not right now, but I'm sure the time will come. COLLINS: Mrs. Johnson, I imagine you are feeling an array of emotions right now. As you consider this next phase, if you will, what are your thoughts?
JAN JOHNSON: Well, I'm proud that my husband feels the way he does, as far as wanting to go and serve his country, even at his age. But at the same time, I don't want him going, because we've got grandchildren that I would like to know that they're going to see him when he -- you know, as they grow up.
COLLINS: In fact, I know you have...
JAN JOHNSON: And while he's gone.
COLLINS: That's right. I know you have a young granddaughter, who was actually named after your son, Justin. Some people would say, Mr. Johnson, that your family has sacrificed enough. What do you say to them?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Well, they're probably right. But I've wanted to do this for a long time, as far as being able to do something for my country. And I found out a year and a half ago that I was still young enough to come back in. And so I jumped on it, hoping to get deployed.
COLLINS: It's been 22 years that you've been out of the military.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: What is your greatest concern as you go back now at this age?
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Right now, hurting my knee again. I get hurt in training eight months ago or so -- nine months ago. And my knee is still a little bit weak, but I hope to get it in shape before I actually get over there.
COLLINS: Well, again, it's wonderful talking to the both of you. We appreciate your time here this morning, and it gives us a lot to think about today as we watch some of the Marines from Falluja, we talk to a little bit later on, who tell us the same thing that you do. They want to go back. Something hard for some of us to understand.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Yes, ma'am.
COLLINS: Again, we appreciate your time so very much, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Thanks again.
JOSEPH JOHNSON: Thank you.
JAN JOHNSON: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." He's going to tell you which way the market could be heading this morning.
SANCHEZ: Also, the so-called bride Bridezilla (ph) ties the knot. Is that mean? We didn't make that term, by the way. The tabs did. How did Star Jones earn such a tough reputation? The 90-second poppers dive in on this, your AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Let's start with Jack and see what the "Question of the Day" is on this day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, sir.
Convicted murderer Scott Peterson facing either death or life without parole after being convicted of killing his wife and unborn son. Legal experts are divided over what the jury will decide, although once they got the jury -- the composition of the jury sorted out, it didn't take them too long to figure out whether they wanted to convict him or not. They did that real quick.
Some of the e-mails we're getting about whether or not he should be executed.
Joyce in Glen Allen, Virginia: "First, I thought he ought get the death sentence. Now that he's been convicted, I think he should spend his life behind bars and live every day with the thoughts of his actions. Since he wanted freedom from Laci so badly, it's only fitting that he had the total experience of not having any freedom."
Gisele in New London, Wisconsin: "I'm not a firm believer in the death penalty, especially when it comes to crimes against the helpless. Why not just give him a life sentence and instead of putting him into protected confinement, let him go into the general population and meet some of his neighbors. He might even learn a few new dance steps."
Mike in Orlando, Florida: "Yes, and make it quick. I don't know of anyone who would give their tax dollars to Mr. Peterson for him to have three squares a day, a roof over his head and clothes on his back for the rest of his life."
And Leo in Glasgow, Kentucky, writes: "No death penalty for Scott. Put him in general population with a natural life sentence. That way he can find out what it means when someone says "Who's your daddy?" A lifetime of being someone's prison wife is appropriate punishment for such scum. Death would be too easy."
The general tone of the e-mails is there's not a whole lot of sympathy for old Scott out there this morning.
SANCHEZ: Did you get anybody who likes him? Did anybody write saying...
CAFFERTY: A couple of people said, you know, we're not sure he did it. The evidence was only circumstantial. Those people obviously don't know what the hell they're talking about. COLLINS: Well, it will be interesting to see now on the penalty phase, you know, who goes to the stand and who speaks on his behalf.
CAFFERTY: Yes, somebody said Amber Frey, they might put her on the stand, because she's opposed to the death penalty.
COLLINS: We're going to find that out.
CAFFERTY: I wonder if his lawyer is going to bother to show up for this part of the trial.
SANCHEZ: It would be a first.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, Jack, thanks so much.
We want to go ahead now and get a preview of the markets. And with his all-important NFL football tally from the weekend, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Thank you very much.
Let's talk about last week first of all. The post-election rally continues, Heidi.
COLLINS: Good.
SERWER: Nasdaq, in particular, is feeling that, up 2.3 percent. The Dow up over 151 points last week. Friday was a big day.
A couple of deals this morning we're going to be talking about. Dow Jones, that's the publisher of "The Wall Street Journal," is buying CBS Market Watch for half a million dollars if you ever go to that Web site.
COLLINS: Star Jones or Dow Jones?
SERWER: Not Star. Star has got other things. She's got other fish to fry this week.
CAFFERTY: Good, Heidi.
SERWER: Very good. It's hard to come back after that. Another deal.
COLLINS: Sorry.
SERWER: Another a very serious deal, Heidi. Very serious. You remember when we were in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, we talked about Kraft looking to unload its Lifesavers and curiously strong Altoid mint division. It did so.
COLLINS: I remember that.
SERWER: Selling it to cross-town rival, Wrigley, for $1.5 billion. They probably settled that deal at the Winnetka Country Club, don't you think?
All right, let's talk about football here, because football is very important, especially when you see these results for the week. Yes. Oh, look here, nine and four. Now people might think that's a little strange because the three teams that I picked to win on air -- the Redskins, Browns and Falcons -- all lost.
COLLINS: We think that's strange.
SERWER: But believe me, these results are audited by the law firm of Dewy, Cheatem and Howe. And I swear they're -- no. Of the four game I got wrong, three of them were on air. But believe me, I did get nine others right.
COLLINS: Well, it's very impressive.
SERWER: Well, thank you. And you did pretty well yourself.
COLLINS: I was lucky.
SERWER: You did very well.
COLLINS: All right, Andy.
SERWER: You're not lucky. You're good.
COLLINS: Thanks so much.
Still to come now, Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake got into it with paparazzi last week. Now that run-in may come back to haunt them. "90-Second Pop" ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's just another manic Monday, which means it's time for some "90-Second Pop." Our pop culture pundits this morning. Oh, we're calling you pundits now.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I like it.
COLLINS: Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent. Sara Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Nice to see you guys. Let's get right into this Star Jones- Bridezilla (ph) thing.
BERNARD: Oh!
COLLINS: OK. So she finally gets married.
BERNARD: Finally!
COLLINS: She's been talking about it for months and months and months. BERNARD: I'm so happy it's over.
COLLINS: And now she's Star Reynolds.
BERNARD: She's Star Reynolds, I know. Can you believe she changed her name? Well, we talked about her being a Bridezilla (ph) for a while now. Just to recap. The wedding was sponsored by Continental Airlines.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: She got donations in the form of the bridesmaids' dresses, tuxedos, invitations. But the thing that we haven't really mentioned is that other people, other celebrities, have done things to reduce the cost of their weddings before. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas sold their pictures for $1.8 million. Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter got a million from ABC actually to air their wedding.
COLLINS: I thought mine was good with half-a-million.
BERNARD: So, I mean, she took it to the extreme. But there are other celebrities who have done this.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: And I just wanted to say...
COLLINS: But?
BERNARD: ... I think that she's gotten it backwards, because the real divas, they don't let anyone in. It's like Madonna, you know, Jennifer Aniston.
COLLINS: Right.
BERNARD: They release one photo and that's it. She is just -- it's like, you know, you don't want to be part of a club that will have you.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Yes.
BERNARD: She's just invited everyone to look at her. And there's no fun in that. It's too easy.
SIGESMUND: I have to say there has been a distinct Liza and David like feeling to this wedding.
COLLINS: Oh, very good.
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: Good one!
SIGESMUND: And I want to know if there are any sponsors lined up for the divorce proceedings.
TOURE: Whoa!
SIGESMUND: You might want to get in line.
COLLINS: All right, we've got to move on, guys. We've got a lot to get to today. "US Weekly" broke the story about Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake and this tiff that they got into outside -- in Hollywood...
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: ... with these photographers who they say ambushed them in a dark alley. The photographer said no way, this was assault.
SIGESMUND: Right.
COLLINS: So which is it?
SIGESMUND: Well, here's the latest. You know, we talked...
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SIGESMUND: I know both sides of it. The latest thing that's happened is that on Friday the two photographers filed suit against Justin and Cameron. Now, remember, Justin and Cameron said they were accosted by these guys. But the lawsuit says they stood away from them for about -- you know, they stood 10 feet away from them until Cameron Diaz came at them, allegedly hit the guy in the neck, allegedly tripped him and stole the camera, which we all know. And they also allege...
COLLINS: So Cameron got very upset about that.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
COLLINS: Yes.
SIGESMUND: They also alleged that Justin Timberlake got in that photographer's face and said, "What are you going to do? What are you going to do?" And then ran away. So it'll be interesting to see...
BERNARD: Ran away is the key part.
SIGESMUND: Well, I mean, they...
TOURE: If you got beat up by a girl and little Justin Timberlake and you want the world to know, I'm not suing. I'm going to keep it very quiet.
BERNARD: It was very "Charlie's Angels" of her, you have to admit.
COLLINS: Yes, it was probably was. Let's get to something a little bit more serious now. Russell Jones, otherwise known as ODB, died suddenly. He was 35 years old.
TOURE: He would have been 36 today.
COLLINS: Really? BERNARD: Very scary.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: What happened?
TOURE: Very sad. I mean, he had chest pains and fell out in the studio, in the recording studio. It's very sad. I mean, he's a father of 13, a really important rapper. I mean, his fans will remember him from his Mariah Carey song 10 years ago, his Marissa (ph) work, "Brooklyn Zoo." I mean, this is a really great important rapper, and he will be missed. And...
BERNARD: The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was really interesting when it started, right?
TOURE: Yes, yes.
BERNARD: Because it was like this collective of nine emcees, right?
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: And they did this thing where they were going to sort of help each other creatively and financially.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: Each one got solo deals. So they were incredibly important.
SIGESMUND: And he got a nice shout-out last night at the AMAs. You know, people were talking about him. I'm sure that the mood there was very solemn considering how important he's been to that community.
COLLINS: Sure.
SIGESMUND: But the AMAs were very celebratory as well of other artists, like Usher, who really cleaned up, and Outkast, which did really, really well at the event.
COLLINS: And then there was -- I've got to mention it. You know what I'm going to say, right? Anna Nicole?
BERNARD: Yes!
COLLINS: What was up with that?
BERNARD: I mean, Nicole...
COLLINS: I guess we've seen here like this before.
BERNARD: Showing off her new svelte figure.
COLLINS: If she could have spoken, it might have been OK, I guess. But yes.
TOURE: I know, like, half the people who tuned into the AMAs said, how come "Desperate Housewives" isn't on?
BERNARD: That's what I said.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: But I think this also showcased Jimmy Kimmel. He was the host. He did a fantastic job.
COLLINS: He was funny, yes.
BERNARD: So he's kind of moving into a new direction. Maybe we'll see him at the Academy Awards one day.
COLLINS: We'll have to see. Hey, guys, thanks so much. A lot to get through today. Toure, Sarah and B.J., thanks, as always.
Back over to you -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: The day's top stories are straight ahead, including reaction to the Scott Peterson verdict from -- are you ready for this -- Peterson's ex-mistress, Amber Frey. We're going to talk to Frey's attorney, that's Gloria Allred, only right here on your AMERICAN MORNING.
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