As the second week of the nation’s second Vioxx trial prepares to open in New Jersey this week, Merck’s lawyers continue their obfuscation and “don’t confuse me with the facts” campaign. Last week, Merck’s lead lawyer was reprimanded by the judge for bashing her fellow colleagues as well as trying to mention that Merck pulled the Vioxx drug off the market. On Thursday, Judge Higbee barred the Merck lawyers from making reference to Vioxx being pulled from the market. The judge noted that such information was irrelevant to the case since the plaintiff had suffered a heart attack prior to Merck’s withdrawal of Vioxx.