Jury Awards Mount Vernon Man $40.1 Million After Medical Device C...( Manufacturer Edwards Lifesciences a...),Health

Manufacturer Edwards Lifesciences attempted to hide dangers of defective

product.

EVERETT, Wash., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A Snohomish Superior Court jury today awarded a Mount Vernon, Wash. man and his family $40.1 million after his heart was irreparably burned by a medical device the manufacturer knew for years was defective.

The award, one of the largest of its kind, included $8.35 million in punitive damages.

Paramjit Singh checked into Providence Everett Medical Center in October 2004 for routine surgery when a monitor manufactured by California-based Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) malfunctioned, causing a catheter to overheat and searing his heart.

According to Paul Luvera, founding partner of The Luvera Law Firm and one of the attorneys representing Singh, Edwards knew of the potential problem as early as 1998 but chose not to warn hospitals and other users of the potentially deadly flaw.

Singh had to undergo a heart transplant because of his injuries and faces serious life-long medical problems, including an expected kidney transplant.

The jury also awarded Providence Everett Medical Center $310,000 in damages. Providence filed suit claiming Edward's actions damaged the hospital. In today's ruling the jury found Edwards 99.9 percent negligent for Singh's injuries.

"The jury told Edwards Lifesciences and medical device manufacturers everywhere that putting profits before human safety is simply not acceptable," said Luvera. "The 12 men and women of this jury paid close attention to the facts throughout the five week trial and the punitive damages they awarded today shows that they accepted the challenge of setting a standard for patient safety."