The first case has a lot of impact on what comes afterward.

If the jury is looking at it through the plaintiff's rose-colored glasses, then the emotional testimony will have an impact and it will drive damages in favor of the plaintiff. But if [Lanier] hasn't demonstrated his case, he's not going to get these jurors.

Merck is trying to send a very strong signal out there: 'Don't think you're going to toss you're hat in the litigation game and wait a couple months and we're going to toss you some money,' ... They're saying, 'If you're going to play the litigation game, you better be serious.'

I lean toward it's not (defamation). Some of it is opinion. (In) some parts of the state, voting with liberal Democrats is not a bad thing at all.

Frankly, their demeanor is going to mean more than what they say.

(It's not much of an impact) I can tell at this point. I'm sure there have been some disruptions, but I haven't seen it. It usually happens in bigger cities. I haven't seen much of anything around here.