6th Cir. Reinstates Lawsuit Accusing Stryker of Paying Kickbacks to Brazilian Doctors

DETROIT — A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit accusing Stryker Corp. of paying kickbacks to Brazilian doctors so they would implant its devices in patients, ruling that the case was properly filed in Michigan.

On May 31, the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found Stryker did not carry its burden of proving that Brazil is an available and adequate alternative forum in which the case may be heard.

Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Grupo (Abramge) is a Brazilian nonprofit professional association. Its members are private health insurance providers, many of whom were affected by a bribery …