A New Jersey state judge refused to strike down claims for punitive damages in nine bellwether cases over injuries allegedly caused by a Merck & Co. Inc. subsidiary’s NuvaRing contraceptive, ruling that the laws of the individual states could allow the awards. Rejecting Merck and Organon USA Inc.’s motion for summary judgment, Judge Brian R. Martinotti emphasized that the alleged injuries took place in separate states, each of which have an interest in governing punitive damages.