Faulty Defibrillator Claims Against Medtronic Dismissed

The plaintiff says he was hurt by a Medtronic defibrillator and related components, but the US Fifth Circuit found his claims were either preempted or weren’t backed by the evidence.

Sign of Medtronic at Canada Headquarters in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. — • Source: Shutterstock

Federal preemption blocks a Louisiana man from suing Medtronic for injuries he allegedly received from a faulty defibrillator, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit determined in an order issued 11 March.

David Reddick filed suit against Medtronic under the Louisiana Products Liability Act (LPLA) alleging his defibrillator shocked him unnecessarily. His...