Calif. Federal Judge Allows Riata Defibrillator Lead Action to Proceed Against St. Jude

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A California federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit involving allegedly defective St. Jude Riata defibrillator leads, ruling that the plaintiff adequately pled that the manufacturer violated the device’s premarket approval requirements and that those violations caused his injuries.

On Aug. 23, Judge Edward Davila of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California allowed the claims of manufacturing defect and negligence to proceed. However, he dismissed with leave to amend the claims of failure-to-warn and negligence per se, finding they were inadequately pled.

Richard Connelly underwent implantation of a cardiac defibrillator and …