Manufacturing Defect Claims to Proceed Against Maker of Cervical Plate System

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A federal judge has allowed manufacturing defect and breach of warranty claims to proceed against the manufacturer of a cervical plate system, ruling that a question of fact exists as to whether the screws should have failed after, at most, six months of use. Steinman v. Spinal Concepts Inc., No. 05-774S (W.D. N.Y.).

However, in the Sept. 22 opinion, Judge William M. Skrenty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York granted Spinal Concepts Inc.'s motion for summary judgment on the design defect and failure to warn claims, ruling that the plaintiff's expert …