06:43 PM MST on Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Associated Press

BOISE -- A Boise attorney has filed a class action lawsuit against drug manufacturer Merck and Company.

LaDawn Marsters' litigation asks the company to reimburse Idaho residents who bought the prescription painkiller Vioxx.

She says the lawsuit covers Idaho residents who bought the drug between May 1999 and September 30th, 2004 -- but who have not suffered a heart attack or stroke.

The suit also demands Merck pay for doctor visits for those who took the drug during that time to determine if they were affected by taking it.

Merck recalled Vioxx off in September. Studies showed it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Experts say Merck's potential liability in the Vioxx cases could hit tens of billions of dollars.

Marsters has no estimates of how many Idahoans could be included in her case. She filed the suit Friday in Boise's Fourth District Court.