Wash. Court Affirms Summary Judgment for St. Jude in Pacemaker Wrongful Death Action

SEATTLE — A Washington appeals court has affirmed a grant of summary judgment to St. Jude Medical Inc. (NYSE: STJ) on claims that it failed to provide adequate technical assistance in connection with its pacemaker, finding the plaintiff failed to show this proximately caused the patient’s death.

On May 28, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1, found the plaintiff failed to establish a causal link between the device’s alleged battery failure and the death.

Dana Mullan was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition in November 1989. In May 1994, she underwent implantation of a St. Jude pacemaker. The …