Call (866) 635-2689 for a free Personal Injury evaluation by attorney in your area.

Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs -> Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer

OR PHONE (866) 635-1838 for Bankruptcy Help, (866) 635-6190 for Divorce,
(866) 635-2689 for Personal Injury or (866) 635-9402 for Criminal Defense

Find a Local Lawyer

Bankruptcy (866) 635-1838
Divorce (866) 635-6190
Personal Injury (866) 635-2689
Criminal Defense (866) 635-9402

Personal Injury Law

: Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer

Patient Awarded $40.1 Million In Burned Heart Case

By Greg Webb

ADVERTISEMENTS

A Washington State Superior Court jury awarded $40.1 million, including $8.35 million in punitive damages, to Paramjit Singh who had to undergo a heart transplant because his was so badly damaged by a defective machine during an operation. The incident in question happened in October 2004, when Singh checked into Providence Everett Medical Center for cardiac bypass surgery. A monitor manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences Corp. malfunctioned causing a catheter to overheat and burn Singh's heart. Singh's lawyers also claim he now suffers other problems due to the faulty operation and anti-rejection drugs he must now take.

The lawyers for Edwards Lifesciences Corp. do not believe the award for punitive damages will withstand the scrutiny of the higher court when they appeal since this was the only reported incident of a faulty machine and the issue since then has been rectified. Edwards blames the Medical Center for the injury, claiming the staff used a damaged cable. The jury, however, did not see the Medical Center as the ones to blame and asked it to pay only .01% of the $40.1 million in damages.

Full post as published by Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer on March 24, 2008 (boomark / email).