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Medtronic Recall: Heart Lead / Defibrillator Wires Recalled: Updated January 2008

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP represents patients nationwide with the recalled Sprint Fidelis line of defibrillator lead wires made by Medtronic Inc.
Leads are thin insulated wires connected to a defibrillator that carry electric impulses to the heart. Many of our clients experienced terrifying episodes of repeated electrical shocks due to their lead having fractured.
Lieff Cabraser investigated patient complaints concerning the Medtronic heart lead for months and has gathered substantial evidence of Medtronic's misconduct. On the same day as the recall was announced, heart patients represented by Lieff Cabraser and co-counsel filed the first personal injury and class action lawsuits against Medtronic in the nation.
Quick Facts on the Medtronic Heart Lead Recall
  • In 2008, a Fremont, California man filed a class-action lawsuit against Medtronic. This lawsuit could affect thousands of Californians who have Medtronic heart leads.
      
  • On October 15, 2007, due to reports of at least five patient deaths associated with defibrillator leads sold under the brand name Sprint Fidelis, Medtronic issued a recall of the product. Medtronic stated that the Sprint Fidelis leads were prone to cracking, with potentially life-threatening consequences like firing repeatedly and unnecessarily, or not sending a jolt when needed.
      
  • Your wallet card will specify the manufacturer of your defibrillator leads. The Sprint Fidelis leads that have been recalled have the model numbers 6949, 6948, 6931 and 6930.
      
  • The recalled leads have been implanted in an estimated 235,000 patients since 2004. They are connected to defibrillators either made by Medtronic or by another defibrillator manufacturer such as Guidant or St. Jude for which Medtronic supplied the lead.
      
  • On October 18, 2007, it was reported that U.S. Senator Charles Grassley has called on officials at Medtronic and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to explain why "Medtronic took months to stop the sales of the faulty lead, even though the problem had been reported in a peer-reviewed journal months prior."
      
  • On October 19th, the Wall Street Journal reported that the recalled Medtronic heart leads may pose a higher risk of fracture in younger adults and children, a group for whom the devices were often used because of their small diameter. While children are a small share of the patients who received the wires, the leads tend to come under greater stress in more-active people, including kids, adolescents and younger adults.
 
Lieff Cabraser represents persons across America injured by the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis heart lead. Click here to submit your case.
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Our firm has been investigating Medtronic's alleged misconduct for months and filed the first personal injury lawsuits in the nation against Medtronic.
Our attorneys have years of experience successfully representing clients in personal injury cases.
There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.
We are pleased to visit you where you live, at no cost, to discuss your legal rights and answer your questions.
We have retained product safety and medical experts nationwide to assist our clients with their claims.
In addition to a team of experienced lawyers, we have dedicated nurses, legal assistants and case clerks to assist our attorneys in the Medtronic recall litigation. Learn more about advantages we offer our clients.
Medtronic Recall Lawsuit: Heart Lead Manufactured With Potentially Fatal Defect
In lawsuits against Medtronic prepared by Lieff Cabraser, our clients allege that Medtronic misrepresented the safety of the Sprint Fidelis leads and they suffered massive, unnecessary electrical shocks.
Hundreds of injuries linked to Sprint Fidelis heart defibrillator wires were reported to the Food and Drug Administration last year. The FDA had received 599 reports of malfunctions and injuries associated with the Fidelis leads as of January 10, 2007, including 204 where patients had been inappropriately shocked. The high and early failure rate of Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads was also reported in a medical journal in 2006. Yet, Medtronic failed to issue a recall and instead continued to sell the devices.
Medtronic has not disclosed the precise mechanism of the Sprint Fidelis lead fracture failures. The complaints allege that the defect is attributable to the small diameter of the coil and conductors in the lead which make it prone to stress damage both during and after implant surgery. Fracture eventually occurs when the conductor is critically overstressed.
Legal Rights of the Injured
The law in most states provides individuals with legal claims and the right to compensation for injuries they suffer as a result of a defective product or the negligence of another.
Damages sought against manufacturers of an allegedly defective medical device typically include damages for:
  • Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment;
  • Medical expenses associated with the allegedly defective product; and
  • Loss of earnings and/or earning capacity.
In the case of the patient's death, the family of the victim may file a wrongful death action and seek damages.
Contact Heart Device Personal Injury Attorney | Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured by a defective Medtronic heart device, please click here to contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the national law firm of Lieff Cabraser. We have successfully represented hundreds of patients across America who received faulty or recalled medical devices, including patients with recalled heart devices and pacemakers. Or you may call us toll-free at 1-800-948-2181.
About Lieff Cabraser
Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is an over fifty attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. For the last five years, the National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the top 20 plaintiffs’ law firms in America.
For our personal injury cases, we bring a team of experienced lawyers. Each client is assigned an individual lawyer. In addition, we have on staff multiple nurses, legal assistants, scientific analysts and case clerks to assist the attorneys. To learn more about our firm, click here.
     Trademark Notice: Personal Injury Lawyer America is an electronic newsletter from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. Lieff Cabraser represents clients in a wide range of cases, including personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Our personal injury attorneys | lawyers are committed to providing the very best representation and support possible for our clients. This website provides information on the legal rights of the injured and the latest news on product defects and related lawsuits.
     Lieff Cabraser is not affiliated in any way with any trademark owner. The use of any trademarks on this site is for product identification and information purposes only.
     About Lieff Cabraser: We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. Our lawyers have represented clients in personal injury, wrongful death and rollover crashes and product defect lawsuits across America, including residents of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
     Among the cases our personal injury attorneys are prosecuting are the Medtronic heart lead recall, the AMO contact lens solution recall, the Peter Pan peanut butter recall, Guidant pacemaker defects, SUV rollover accidents, popcorn workers lung injuries, and Ford switch fires.
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