NEW YORK, July 16, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The following statement was issued today by Squitieri & Fearon, LLP.
You are hereby notified that a class action has been filed in the United States District Court of New Jersey on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) ("Merck" or the "Company") common stock during the period July 1,1999 through June 21,2002 (the "Class Period").
If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interest, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Lee Squitieri or Stephen J. Fearon, Jr. of Squitieri & Fearon, LLP at (800) 432- 8174 or (646) 487-3049 or by e-mail at Stephen@sfclasslaw.com.
The caption of the case is Marvin Goldfarb v. Merck & Co., Inc., Raymond V. Gilmartin, Kenneth C. Frazier, Richard C. Henriques, Judy C. Lewent and Mary M. McDonald, Case No 02-CV-3331 (D.N.J.). The case was filed in the federal courthouse at 50 Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey and has been assigned to Judge Mary L. Cooper in the federal courthouse located at 402 East State Street in Trenton, New Jersey.
The Complaint charges Merck and certain of its officers and directors with violating the federal securities laws. Those officers and directors are: Raymond V. Gilmartin (the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer), Kenneth C. Frazier (the Company's Senior Vice President and General Counsel), Richard C. Henriques (the Company's Vice President and Controller), Judy C. Lewent (the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer), and Mary McDonald (the Company's Senior Vice President and General Counsel).
The lawsuit claims that Merck and the officers who are named in the Complaint artificially inflated Merck's sales by improperly including consumer co-payments as revenues in the Company's numerous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and its public statements about its financial results during the Class Period.
Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all those who purchased or acquired Merck's common stock during the Class Period. Excluded from the Class are the defendants and members of their immediate families, any entity in which a defendant has a controlling interest and the heirs of any such excluded party.
Plaintiff is represented by the law firm of Squitieri & Fearon, LLP which has significant experience and expertise prosecuting class actions on behalf of investors and shareholders.
If you are a member of the Class described above, you may, not later than August 30, 2002, move the court to serve as lead plaintiff of the Class, if you so choose.
If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interest, please contact plaintiff s counsel, Lee Squitieri or Stephen J. Fearon, Jr. of Squitieri & Fearon, LLP at (800) 432- 8174 or (646) 487-3049 or by e-mail at Stephen@sfclasslaw.com
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca.