Riata Leads ‘Electrocuted’ Man, He Claims

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (CN) - Kaiser Permanente knew that Riata defibrillator leads made by St. Jude Medical were defectively designed when surgeons installed them in him, a man claims in county court.

"In spite of this knowledge, and in spite of defendants' ability to redesign the Riata leads, at minimal cost, defendants decided, despicably and in conscious and willful disregard of the safety of consumers, and without giving notice of the defects to consumers, to install such leads in plaintiff," causing him an electrical shock when the leads broke, which the plaintiff characterized as "electrocuting" him, according to the complaint.

Plaintiff is represented by Bruce W. Nickerson of San Carlos.

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