Lightfoot Team Secures District Court Win for Medtronic

May 1, 2024

Lightfoot, Franklin & White partner Lee M. Hollis successfully secured a key district court victory on behalf of our client Medtronic. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama dismissed with prejudice product liability claims brought against the medical device manufacturer pertaining to one of its defibrillator products. 

The personal representative of the estate of a female patient implanted with a Medtronic defibrillator alleged the device caused the plaintiff’s death. The plaintiff asserted claims against Medtronic under Alabama’s Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine and for negligence, negligence per se, wantonness, breach of warranty and misrepresentation. 

The Lightfoot team filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the Medical Device Amendments to the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act preempted the plaintiff’s claims. The Court agreed and dismissed all claims.

Hollis has practiced law for more than 30 years, trying numerous wrongful death, personal injury and commercial cases to verdict. He previously served as Chair of the Network of Trial Law Firms and was the Co-Chair of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association’s Trial Academy.