Medtronic Appeal in Paraplegic Suit Gets U.S. High Court Query

The U.S. Supreme Court expressed interest in Medtronic Inc. (MDT:US)’s appeal in a lawsuit by a man who was rendered a paraplegic after surgeons implanted a system that infuses pain medication into the spine. The justices today asked the Obama administration for advice on a federal appeals court decision letting the suit go forward. The suit accuses Medtronic of failing to tell federal regulators about previous problems with the SynchroMed EL pump and catheter. Medtronic argues that patients can’t use state law to sue device makers for allegedly violating a duty under federal law. The appeals court rejected that argument, allowing the suit by Richard Stengel and his wife under Arizona state law.