La. Federal Judge Dismisses St. Jude Heart Valve Action With Prejudice

LAKE CHARLES, La. — A Louisiana federal judge has dismissed with prejudice a St. Jude heart valve action, ruling that the plaintiffs’ claims were insufficiently pled and it, therefore, cannot be determined whether they survive the preemption inquiry.

In the July 24 order, Magistrate Judge Patricia Minaldi of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana explained that that the amended complaint “contains little more than a laundry list of bare, conclusory allegations,” and that the plaintiffs have already attempted to cure the defects.

Gary Skinner underwent surgery on Feb. 11, 2013, to receive a St. Jude Trifecta …