Suit against Medtronic seeks $550M damages

-The Canadian Press

10/19/2007- Two Toronto law firms have launched a class-action lawsuit against U.S. medical device maker Medtronic and its Canadian subsidiary over implantable defibrillators linked to five deaths.

Reko Barristers and Rochon Genova LLP said the suit seeks damages of $550 million for the manufacture and sale of defective Sprint Fidelis leads, wires implanted in the heart to deliver an electric current from a defibrillator.

Medtronic announced Oct. 14 was recalling the Sprint Fidelis electrical leads as being prone to a defect that caused them to malfunction.

The law firms said about 268,000 patients in all have received Sprint Fidelis leads.

"Malfunctioning leads may have contributed to five patient deaths worldwide thus far,'' they said in a release.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. is representing individuals that have been harmed defective medical devices such as the Medtronic defibrillator and pacemaker. If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of a defective Medtronic pacemaker or defibrillator or if you need more information about the Medtronic recall or class action lawsuit click here for a free, confidential case evaluation.