Federal Guidant Lawsuits Consolidate in MN

Jamie Sheller

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 475

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

On November 7, 2005, cases filed in federal courts around the country against Guidant Corporation, involving their defective heart devices, were transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The transfer was ordered by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The transfer means that those cases will be centralized in one court and coordinated by one judge. In ordering the transfer, the Panel found that the cases involve common questions of fact, and that centralization would serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. The Panel found that the district court in Minnesota was appropriate because there are several Guidant lawsuits pending in that district, and also Guidant development and manufacturing facilities are located in Minnesota.