Young & Associates Secures $17.1 Million Verdict In Patent Infringement Case For Medical Device Technology

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Young & Associates, a boutique law firm specializing in complex business litigation, secured a $17.1 million jury verdict that found U.K.-based Smith & Nephew, Inc. and its subsidiary, Austin, Texas based ArthroCare, willfully infringed upon two groundbreaking medical device patents owned by Naples, Florida based orthopedic product developer Arthrex, a global leader in arthroscopic surgery technology. Young & Associates founder Rodger D. Young and attorney Jaye Quadrozzi represented Arthrex in the trial, set in the United States Eastern District of Texas.

A pioneer in the field of arthroscopy, Arthrex has developed over 10,000 innovative products and surgical procedures to advance minimally invasive orthopedic surgery worldwide. The nationally recognized orthopedic sports medicine specialists and inventors of the two Arthrex patents in the suit testified at trial, including Dr. Stephen S. Burkhart, a pioneer in the field of shoulder arthroscopy and Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache, team orthopedic doctor for the LA Rams and LA Dodgers.

"The ability to protect new ideas is a cornerstone of the American judicial system and one that we are gratified to uphold," said Young. "The efforts of our trial team will have a far-reaching affect not only on Arthrex's leading team of inventors, whose work has changed the face of arthroscopic surgery around the world, but beyond into the orthopedic product development and medical device technology industries. Smith & Nephew is a 150 year old, multi-national firm with the experience to know better. This verdict speaks volumes for protecting innovation in our country."

As outlined in the judgment, the jury found that every variation and size of 13 products lines from Smith & Nephew and ArthroCare products willfully infringed upon Arthrex patents involving knotless and cross-support technology, a revolutionary design used globally by surgeons to affix soft tissue to bone in surgical procedures such as rotator cuff surgery. Because Smith & Nephew and ArthroCare knowingly violated the patents, the initial $17.1 million in damages may be increased to a total of nearly $60 million when Arthrex seeks enhanced damages due to the jury finding that the defendants acted willfully.

The judgment will have a national and international impact, as Arthrex will also seek an injunction preventing Smith & Nephew from selling 13 surgical device product lines resulting from the protected technology, including HEALICOIL™ Suture Anchors, TWINFIX™ Ultra Suture Anchors, TWINFIX™ PK FT and SPYROMITE Suture Anchors, Titan Ti Suture Implants, SpeedFix Suture Implants, SPEEDSCREW™ Suture Implants, SPEEDLOCK™ Knotless Implants, SPEEDLOCK™ Hip Knotless Implants, Spartan Suture Anchors, BIORAPTOR Knotless Suture Anchors, FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchors, FOOTPRINT Ultra, LabraLock™ P Knotless and MULTIFIX™ Knotless.

The protected Arthrex technology  patents—U.S. Patent No. 9,179,907, invented by Dr. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss and Dr. ElAttrache, and U.S. Patent No. 8,821,541, invented by Drefuss and William C. Benavitz—are responsible for transforming arthroscopic surgery procedures and improving lives around the world.

ABOUT YOUNG & ASSOCIATES
A litigation boutique specializing in complex commercial disputes, Farmington Hills, Michigan-based Young & Associates, P.C. has earned a national reputation for superior representation. With a virtually unbroken string of successful verdicts to the firm's credit, Young & Associates emphasizes an efficient, lean and aggressive litigation style. The firm focuses on disputes involving shareholders/partners, contracts, antitrust, patents, trade secrets and manufacturer representatives. Young & Associates has offices in Farmington Hills, Michigan and New York City.

SOURCE Young & Associates