Medtronic, Inc. and Medtronic Sofamor Danek, USA, Inc. Sued for Product Liability and Promoting the Off-Label Use of Infuse(R) Bone Graft Product, According to Page ...( Medtronic's Infuse(R) Bone Graf...),Health

Medtronic's Infuse(R) Bone Graft product has been the subject of a recent whistleblower lawsuit brought by former Medtronic employees who alleged that doctors received over $8 million in 2006 in "sham" consulting fees for using and promoting the Infuse(R) Bone Graft product. Medtronic's marketing and promotion of the device for off-label uses is being investigated by the United States Department of Justice. In addition, the United States Senate is conducting hearings into the matter. Medtronic previously settled for $40 million with the Justice Department on another whistleblower action alleging that, between 1998 and 2003, Medtronic's spinal products division paid kickbacks to doctors in a number of forms, including sham consulting agreements, sham royalty agreements and lavish trips to desirable locations.

The case is "Walter Nisbet et al. v. Medtronic, Inc. and Medtronic Safamor Danek USA, Inc., United States District Court, Central District of California, Case No. SACV08-1361-JVS (RNBx)."

For additional information contact James A. Dunlap Jr. & Associates LLC at 404-354-2363, http://www.jamesdunlaplaw.com, or Page Perry, LLC, at 770-673-0047, http://www.pageperry.com.