Calif. Federal Judge Dismisses Failure-To-Warn Claim in Riata Lead Action

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A California federal judge has dismissed a failure-to-warn claim accusing the makers of allegedly defective St. Jude Riata defibrillator leads of failing to report adverse events to the FDA, finding the plaintiff failed to show causation.

On Feb. 6, Judge Edward Davila of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California determined that the allegations involve adverse events that occurred after the Riata Leads were implanted in the plaintiff.

Richard Connelly underwent implantation of a cardiac defibrillator and Riata leads in May 2003, 2007 and 2015. In November 2016, Connelly's Riata leads malfunctioned while …