Guidant said it will settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Joshua Oukrop, a 21-year-old Minnesota man who died after his defibrillator failed. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The Oukrop story, first reported by The New York Times, led to a series of major recalls and a formal investigation by federal authorities. The device maker has since restructured its merger with Johnson & Johnson at a marked down price. Guidant said it faces about 45 similar class action suits filed by people who claim the faulty defibrillator put their lives in danger.
- see this article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press