Medtronic Loses Bid to Void J&J $226 Million Verdict

Medtronic Inc., the largest maker of medical products for the spine, failed to persuade a judge to overturn a $226.3 million patent-infringement verdict won by Johnson & Johnson's DePuy unit over spinal screws.

U.S. District Judge Edward Harrington in Boston today ruled against Medtronic, which sought to overturn the September jury verdict. Harrington ordered Medtronic to pay the award plus interest and set a Dec. 19 hearing on J&J's request for an order to stop Medtronic from selling the Vertex Screw systems.

"Biedermann is extraordinarily pleased with the affirmation of the innovation of his invention and the finding of Medtronic's improper taking of the invention,' said Biedermann lawyer Luke Dauchot of Kirkland & Ellis in Los Angeles.

This article appeared in its entirety in the December 11, 2007 edition of Bloomberg News.