Plaintiffs Obtain $240 Million Revised Settlement In Guidant Defibrillators Product Liability Litigation

On November 19, 2007, it was announced that an amended settlement agreement has been obtained on behalf of 8,550 patient plaintiffs who asserted claims against Guidant Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation and other entities (hereinafter collectively referred to as, the "Defendants"). The plaintiffs had claimed that Defendants knowingly sold them inherently defective defibrillator devices with potential life-threatening defects over a period of three years. The amended settlement expands a prior agreement obtained in July 2007, which had provided for a recovery of $195 million to settle over 5,600 claims. After additional injured patients stepped forward, the agreement was amended to provide up to $240 million in compensation. The settlement hopes to encompass most of the pending claims.


Claudine Q. Homolash heads her firm's heart device litigation representing clients who have suffered physical and emotional injuries as a result of the implantation of a recalled Guidant defibrillator and/or pacemakers.