La. Federal Judge Refuses to Dismiss Medtronic Defibrillator Action, Allows Plaintiffs to Amend Complaint

LAKE CHARLES, La. — A Louisiana federal judge has denied Medtronic’s motion to dismiss a suit alleging that its cardiac defibrillator is defective and allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint to include violations of state law that parallel federal regulations in accordance with Riegel v. Medtronic.

On May 15, Judge Patricia Minaldi of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana also granted Medtronic’s request for judicial notice of several Premarket Approval Database Listings that relate to the various components of the device.

In January 2012, Calvin Williamston underwent surgical implantation of a Medtronic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). …