Medtronic Agrees To Pay $268 Million To Settle Personal Injury Recall Lawsuit Claims Against Medtronic Over Recalled Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads.
A settlement has been reached in a mass tort personal injury recall lawsuit against Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic” or “Defendant”), alleging among other things that the recalled Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads (i.e., wires or cables used to connect hearts to implantable defibrillators that provide shocks to the heart when needed to try to stop potentially deadly rhythm disruptions) were defective since they were fracture-prone and could crack, according to a Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads personal injury recall lawsuit settlement news report.
There are reportedly an estimated 8,100 Sprint Fidelis Leads personal injury recall cases filed or served against Medtronic that may be eligible to participate in the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads settlement.
If You Have Thoughts On The Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads Recall Lawsuit Settlement, Share Your Recall Settlement Comments Below.
as usual it appears the attornies will get substantially all the money while we people walking arround with a ticking bomb in our chest will get a decal for our cars sunvisor informing us that four wheel drive suvs do not corner as well as a corvette or a viper.
I for one thing will NEVER ‘sign on’ to a class action again, and my allready low opinion of the legal trade has ratcheted down a few more levels.
I agree with david. My wife has already had to have her wires replaced and now that there is a settlement we have to pay back our insurance company for the second operation out of our part of the settlement. Reason being we cannot profit from the insurance company for having our “damage “repaired. I think that lawyers should pay half the cost also in that is how they are profiting out of their part of the settlement. But no they add more lawyers which are specialists in subrogation so they can negogiate for us to get the best deal. Way I see it we will receive maybe $5000 out of a $33000 settlement.
I agree about the payback. I think it is wrong that it has to be that way. I believe that insurance companies take risks paying out so their risk is to take a fall, too. Oh well, who says we can ever win at something so crucial as this. I feel like a ticking time bomb. Had problem recently with super super high blood pressure. And the doc where I live now (and he is a cardiologist) said, “It’s been a long time since we treated a patient with your problem!” I have HOCM (hyper-trophic cardio-myopathy) … telling me that made me a little wary and then talking with a physician who works for a medical malpractice attorney about something unrelated, I was told that where I now live, the care is pathetically low-quality. I want out of here and hope the money I receive will at least be enough to get me out of here to a place where there is better medical care! And yes, there is a subrogation group assigned to this lead case so we get the better deal. Trying to talk the insurance companies including Medicare and Medicare to take a small percentage instead of what they paid out. Of course, with Medi/Medi, their reimbursement rates are nowhere near that of a private insurance company. So that may be better. WHO KNOWS???
Just a reply that I forgot to make earlier but of UTMOST IMPORTANCE!
THE MONIES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OR ANY SURGERY FOR REMOVAL OR REPLACEMENT TAKING PLACE IS TO BE PAID FOR BY MEDTRONIC. THIS WAS TOLD TO US AS A GROUP BY THE DOCS HERE WHO IMPLANTED US. THEY WERE INFORMED THAT MEDTRONIC WILL PICK UP THE FULL TAB OR TABS ON ANY AND ALL CHARGES THAT FALL UNDER THE BAD LEAD! INCLUDING MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION TO ANOTHER CITY TO HAVE IT DONE. I’ll be danged if they take the money from me should I have to have mine removed. NO ***** WAY!!!! Call Medtronic or find info on that from another lawyer or your doctor about the “secondary surgery(ies) charges!!!
Hey
33,000 won,t even cover the replacement and lost wages.
The way I look at it, when all is said and done, we could be in the “red” after hiring another Attorney to negotiate the subrogation clause. Don’t know where you are coming up with $5,000 out of a $33,000 settlement – I personally think that after many more months of negotiations, we will get zip.
With the group who is working on our cases to get our payback lowered, they are charging for it and we have to pay half. Can’t recall if we pay $400 or just $200 but it is have of their charge. Now that certainly sucks ditch water. Everyone has their hands out and we are standing here with nothing for who knows how long!
the amount is $200.00 not to excede 15% for insurance companies and 20% for medical care .
lAVERNE, where did you get those numbers??? Would be interested in knowing!
The numbers were included with the SPRINT FIELDS PRIVATE LIEN RESOULUTIONH PROGRAM CLAIMANT INFORMATION that i received from my attroney (dated 9/08,2011)
“LIEN REDUCTIONS AND CAPS – as part of the private lien resolution program, the participating prive health insurance providers have agreed to reduce automatically all injury-related lien amounts by 50% (adjusted lien amount). In addition to automatically reducing all liens by 50%, the participating private health insurance providers also have agreed to limit or “cap” all liens at 15% of gross settlementg amount. Futher, total medical obligations (including Medicare, Medicaid, and other govermental) will be capped at 20% generating a final lien value (Capped Lien Amount)”
I did not sign up for class action settlement. Do I have a right to go after Medtronic since I did not sign up? Also can I get replacement plus damages from those !!!!!!!!! holes.
I had a medtronic icd placed in Feb 2007.. On a routine check up appointment at the cardiologist I wasi nformed that there was a recall on my device and that needed to make sure the leads where ok… I was assured everything was fine. Several years later I changed cardiologist and on my first visit in that office, the Dr again said that there was recall on my device but I had plenty of battery left and so decided to leave it in. I started having heart failure symptoms again and after a hospitalization the Dr decided to replace it with bi ventricular device. When he performed the surgery he found that the lead had splintered and was also embedded into tissue. I have had to pay out of pocket for these visits and my insurance also got billed to the tune of $100,000. + dollars.. shouldn’t medtronic be paying this???
Were you in on the class action? Have to be part of it to claim it. Not sure what will be done! Your insurance will want to be reimbursed for what they paid out and it will come out of YOUR check, …. notice that none of this will come out of the attorneys’ checks???? HMMMM… that just hit me like a brick!
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY SURGERY TO REPLACE OR REPAIR WHAT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY LEAD! This is out of the mouths of my physician and his staff. Medtronic has agreed to pay those expenses including medical transportation to another city where the docs are qualified to do the surgery. VERY FEW SURGEONS ARE SKILLED ENOUGH TO DO SUCH SURGERIES SUCCESSFULLY!
Even if you are not in the class action, Medtronic PROMISED to pay and and all expenses for removal, replacement, etc. including transportation via MediVac or regular air to a competent surgeon, usually in large city! We are not liable for a dang dime for those procedures!! And it cannot be included in the class action monies we are claiming! That I know for sure!
My mother has one of these devices with the recalled leads. In the spring of this year it started shocking her at 12:30 in the afternoon and kept on until 11:00 at night every hour each time getting worse. It was like she was having a seizure, it knocked her out each time it happened. It scared her she thought she was dying each time it happened. Now she is on even more medicine to keep this from happening again. She was in the hospital off and on for three months after this incident.
Zip for news from the lawyers yet.Got a nice long letter in Nov.Sign this and that so judge can make his decision on settlement.
Like to know what the judge is getting for this?Know the lawyers are fat
cats again.While i go to work everyday at the shop and worry about my family.And there future if iam not here.Have been shocked when
you hear your alarm in your chest go off get ready it hurts.
The alarm, by the way, is not meant to be a warning …. it is to let us know that our pacer is still running. No alarm sound, no workie! That is what doc said to me. Mine went off once. I am dang sure it did as it was like a major body jolt and hurt, but it did not show up on readout when I went to have the device checked at the dr’s office. Now how about them cookies? Wonder if the testing is always accurate…
i am so nervous reading all the horror stories, since having my defib place in my heart i thought yhat i would be fine now i am thatnot able to sleep and mt whole world has changed. i am afraid to go any where alone for fear
gracj.. don’t let it worry you that you don’t go out. Carry the ID card they gave you when implanted and also have a MediAlert type card with you. Be sure that it is in all of your doctors’ records and at the hospital you utilize and make sure the ambulance driver knows if and when they may have to transport you! G-d forbid this!
I have to remind everyone that I cannot have nitroglyercin for chest pain as it can make my heart collapse in on itself even with the pacer and then will not open up to beat! I had a whole week of out of range, up in the sky BP readings, and had to make call to my admitting physician to call the cardio doc. The nurses never called him to let him know about my elevated BP’s. I am considering changing hospitals as the one I have been using is getting lax on all their procedures. I was in nursing before I got so sick that I went on disability, so I know how to carry out procedures, deal with isolation room rules, etc. Now I am known as an incorrigible patient at that hospital. I get sick often and am in ER every few months and then admitted. I heard one idiot in hall calling me a “frequent flyer”! That hurt the heck out of me. If healthcare reform cuts things out, we are in for some poor care, worse than it is now. And bet the courts will get stingier too if we have a malpractice case! Sorry got too wordy and off subject but know how hard it is to go thru this and feel safe and sane in this medical world (merry-go-round)!
since reading all the horrow stories i am more afraid now than i allready was, i am not able to sleep at night and now on more medication than before. i have not been shocked but i am afraid to go out alone or do things i used to do. my heart bleeds for the people who have lost their lives and their families. how can a company keep this so quiet? i know the settlement is confidention but that is not what i am talking about. we are in this alone, just us and God. bless each and every one of you.
3-15-2011
Can anyone tell me anything about what is going on?
My father passed away a year & a half ago. He had the medtronic icd placed in him only after myself, my mother & stepbrother begged him to so that he would be able to live a longer life. The day he died, he had 5 to 7 heart attacks and not the first time did that thing go off. That was in August. The previous January, while he was sitting in his recliner watching TV, the defibrillator went off, not once but twice. We were in the local ER for hours before sending us to a larger tramua center, noone could figure out why it kept going off for no reason. About 2 months before he died he signed up for the class action lawsuit. After he died, my mother had to sign paper after paper for the lawyers. The last of December 2010 or beginning of January 2011 she was told that by the end of March 2011 she would have a settlement check. Since then, she has heard NOTHING from the lawyers. After doing some research, found out that the settlement would be around $33,000 per person. THAT IS A COMPLETE JOKE. Is that all that my father was worth?? Pretty well pissed off now. $33,000 won’t even come close to paying off his doctor, hospital, ambulance and funeral bills. So just when are people supposed to receive their settlements?? It’s not like my mom will prosper any from the settlement but at least she’ll be able to pay down some of the outstanding bills and maybe the bill collectors will lay off for awhile. People on a fixed income can only afford to pay out so much, since she is now solely responsible for paying her monthly bills and all of the medical bills that was left after what the insurance didn’t pay… Their wonderful little life-saving device left my mother a widow…
sorry to here that man.. but the papers my mom received from the whole settlement check states that anybody who has died IN BLAME of this device is receiving 75,000,000 – 85,000,000.. i think your set man, talk to them lawyers ! i’ll even fax you the papers!
That is incorrect. That 75-85 million will be SPLIT among the people who have incurred extraordinary injuries, including death. No single person will receive it all.
Sorry, but Lora is correct! That isn’t one person’s award, it is the entire settlement amount to be split. Sad, but true!
help, settlement already done, to late for me mine had to be replaced 11/10/2010 ICD and lead due to faulty lead then they had to remove all the old leads plus the new ones plus the ICD due to infection, just spent 26 days in hosp, plus now tied to home with IV to get rid of infection, all this due to fractured lead that had been recalled, lost 6 months work so far will probably lose everything due to hosp and doctor bills so please can anyone tell me what i’m supposed to do now? i’m at the very end of my rope, thanks Phil
Phil, what infection did you get? By chance, was it MRSA? I can tell you about that nasty infection. Contracted it during one of my surgeries to implant my device four years ago. Now I get sick all the time from it! Always in hosp tied to IV and even get IV meds at home sometimes rather than be hospitalized. It is not curable! It lingers in the body and rear its ugly head when it wants! Which to me is too many times! So sorry you had such a bad experieince!
A couple of years ago my mother kept fainting but her doctor really never knew why. They put a pacemaker in her & we thought everything would be alright.. One of my mothers friends told her before the surgery that it might just be her potassium level.. Of coarse my mom still went & got the surgery & they told her everything will be okay.. Months later the lead broke & shocked my mom @ least 40 + times.. the ambulence had to put a magnet on her chest to stop it from shocking her.. She told me “it felt like getting kicked in the chest by David Becham consistantly” She signed up for a new doctor and he immediately told her it was all over low potassium.. she took potassium pills & never fainted again ! but still she has anxiety problems & has to see a therapist weekly because she’s so scared.. of coarse this is medtronics fault but what about her doctor? isn’t that 2 law suits ? I need answers..
It is a Medtronics problem. They physicians acted in good faith without knowledge of the faulty leads. As to anyone suing them separately now and not having been in on the class action, you would have to consult a medical malpractice/faulty device attorney. Best of luck to you.
Find a good attorney and ask them. They could both be responsible but the real fault is with Medtronic for allowing these faulty leads to be used in their product! THEY KNEW THEY WERE BAD! That’s where the evil is!
My lead was replaced because of a low voltage reading and as a precaution. If Im reading the papers right the insurance companies get re-imbursed first if there was a malfunction of the lead. Mine didnt malfunction. But knowing the legal system I will get the shaft. I went thru 3 surgeries in three months because of wire problems. Was shocked multiple times because the wires were not even in my heart. Im not a mental case but how do they figure compensation for the daily stress one goes thru because you are scared to do any thing stressful that might get you shocked. I wish the lawyers could tell us when the checks will be cut. I am sure I am not the only one who could use the money. My heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones because of this. Just remember that your loved ones are not suffering any more and that the lord is with them.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO PAID FOR THE IMPLANTATION OF THE DEVICE GET REIMBURSED FIRST! And if you had subsequent problems, they get paid first also! Most attorneys have the foresight to have a litigation group that will try to get the insurance companies to take just a small percent so we aren’t left with nothing. Still, I am concerned that it still won’t be enough… it will be nothing as we have been expecting. Which, needless to say, is utterly disappointing. Living each day waiting on a failed lead… and knowing that having it removed/replaced could be a “death penalty” in itself.
And don’t forget, the attorneys all get their shares first!!!
I need to amend my post. My physician and his staff informed all of us that any and all expenses tied to removing/repairs, etc. of the faulty product is at the entire expense of MEDTRONIC! Period! They have even agreed to pay for medical transportation even MediVac helicopter to hospital where there are competent surgeons to do the surgeries! NOT ALL SURGEONS, ESP. IN SMALL TOWNS, ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF REPAIR!!! That is why if anything happens, I will go to Houston, TX, about 7 hours from here but quicker by chopper (if it doesn’t crash…. lost a good friend who was a pilot and crashed off of S. Padre Island couple of yrs ago. He and two paramedics died… so sad…)
I just received an email and phone call from my attorney ordering me to give them my insurance information (To be honest, I don’t remember the name of the insurance company that insured me during the procedure, besides who do my attorney work for; me or my insurance carrier). I also asked the attorney what’s in for me to give them the insurance information. She said, so the insurance company will get paid first. I told her if I am to get 33,000.00 and the procedure cost 90k, somebody will be short (like me). What is the use of me agreeing to sign anything else, it will not be to my benefit?
Most attorneys are using subrogation groups to get the insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid to accept a small percentage of reimbursement of what they paid out so we won’t get little to nothing. It is to your benefit to sign that paper being included in the “Private Lien Resolution” or you can end up getting nothing! The amount of your settlement will probably be more if you sign the PLR. I found out about this today via letter from my attorney. Still no answer from them about how much the settlements are worth.. different for everyone, I am sure. I just want to live without being in fear of my life and that will never happen as long as this thing is in me and it is really too risky to remove. I was told I’d be Medivac’d via helicopter to Houston because here in SW Texas, there isn’t a facility that can do the surgery to remove the fractured lead as the surgery is very complicated. Nice thought, eh?
i had a recalled lead put in 2006, when i found out about recall, not by medtronic, but by seeing tv ad, asked doctor about it, he said they were not doing anything about it, just watch it, january 2011 the lead fractured, had to have it replaced ,by then it was to late to get involved in lawsuit, stoped taking cases as of january 2011, as of yet medtronic has yet to replace my out of pocket expence, not to mention all other things associated with operation, loss of time, pain and suffering, and so forth, origanally cost over $100,000 to put in, and then had to have battery replaced 2 years later, not very long for a battery
I am on my fourth year now with my battery. One shock that the doc says never showed on my readouts. But I know it went off once. My leads, according to doc, are supposedly ok, not fractured. I dread the day I find out it is….
ALWAYS jump in a suit that involves you. Never hurts to protect your own interests in such things!
My husband had a heart attack in 2005. They implanted an ICD. On April 7th 2007 he had a series of shocks, he said it felt like a horse kept kicking him in the chest. I watched all this screaming my head off, it was like something was picking him up and throwing him against the headboard of the bed. (the shocks started when he stood up out of bed). Everytime he would move it would throw him. When the ambulance finally arrived they couldnt get a pulse, i sat and watched him take his last breath. They were able to bring him back, on arrival at the hospital the medtronic representative let the magnet slip off his ICD and he landed in the floor, another shock. The doc went in and found out not only were the leads fractured the ICD itself was defective, it was filled with blood. He had two different surgeries over a 3 day period, the first, take out the box and wires, second, replace everything. 2 weeks later we found out the new wires were recalled and defective also. My husband has not been the same since this. The doctors have diagnosed him with PTSD( post traumatic stress disorder). He walks around paranoid, i have to reassure him alot. Hell, i dont know what to do. We are part of the lawsuit and i just recieved a letter from his attorney, stating the doctor and hospital bills will be paid first. We have over 500.000 dollars in hospital bills. We pay the cardioligist every month, payment plan. He is now on disability and does have medicare. I look to not get any compensation. This is not right and we had to sign papers saying they were not liable. I’m just sick about this.
So sorry to hear this. And sadly, the insurance companies want their money back. That ticks me off! That should be part of the insurance industry’s business bumps!
If anyone viewed the law papers, they said if something happens in future, 7 years or so you would be compensated for fractures etc. I received new letter end of march that said, do to less claimants 16k to 14k the total settlement was reduced from 268 million to 220 million.
i was wondering if the lawyer fees would be deducted from our settlement, another words, if we get like 20 k is it reduced then with lawyer fees ?
The $33,000 figure you are making reference to is an “average”
not the figure used for everyone. Some will get as low as $1,500
and others as high as $75/85000.
The attorney’s take their fees and expenses first, then the insurance companies get their share of repayment (might be the insurance companies come first!) and then … you get the rest, however big or small that is. NOT FAIR!
Just like I think that an attorney taking his share first 1/3 and then paying medical bills, and client getting rest is wrong! I had a horrendous fracture due to negligence at a skating rink of keeping their customers from purposely hitting skaters to make them fall. I fractured my left wrist (double compound, double co-minuted fracture — crushed bones, one bone out of arm about 3 inches, two other bones broken — and all I got was $1200! For three months, I wore an external device affixed to the arm to keep bones in place to heal. The pain was excruciating! And guess what? Yup, the attorney got 1/3, then the bills got paid, then I got the drippings. That ticked me off, especially since we used an attorney a close friend was a close friend of. GRRRR! I still have problem with that wrist and hand… always will!
If the total settlement amount is $220 million and the total claims are 14,ooo+, why i s the estimate payments amounts only a few thousand dollars? Your lawer can only get 40% of your individual amount. there sould not be any court cost. But all letters from my attorney said attorney fees plus expenses. What are the other expenses?
Office expenses, stamps, phone calls, hourly fee for the attorney and his assistants, gas to and from filing forms, cost of filing forms in court, etc etc etc … and believe me, they time those calls too! They charge by the minute! It is pathetic but that is what attorneys are taught to do best! I give credit to pro bono attorneys who help those who can’t help themselves!!! Or at least have a small set amount they charge for a case and no more! Or let expenses for medical paid first, then 1/3 of what is left goes to attorney and rest to claimant. But the atty gets first 1/3, then medical is paid, and we get the slim pickin’s!
does anyone know of a person who has actually recieved their settlement or is this just a case off the lawyers getting rich again?
My lawyers told me the settlement isn’t going out until late summer/fall.
HasWhat kind of #’s were we seeing from the 1st replacement from the hospital ?
Did anyone get told originally that medtronics would pay for ALL the costs of the replacement
Yes, I was told that if there were complications, Medtronic would assume all costs of replacing leads, etc. etc! Assured that by my physician/surgeon!
I called my husbands attorney, she informed me #1 This lawfirm they have hired to talk to the hospitals and insurance companys are trying to settle with them for 3% not 100% of the total bill. (yeah right). My husband was not insured when he had the replacement surgeries, they wanted me to send them the bill. NO I WILL NOT! She informed me that if when we get the settlement check, if the hospital bills have not been paid then the hospital could sue us for 100% of his bill. SO? Looks like we will have a judgement against us. She was telling me some people have went through companies to get their money and it has to be paid back. Has anyone heard of this? Companies like JG WENTWORTH, PEACHTREE AND SO ON? Also, she informed me it would be the end of 2011 before any of us even know how much our settlements will be. This is crazy! We need OUR MONEY NOW!!!!
You know what, I thought of JG Wentworth, but thought, nah, it won’t apply to this settlement. Wonder if I should give them a try… Can’t get blood from a turnip if all of it is spent, can they? Sorry, but my attitude it turning sour. I can’t help but feel cheated out of what is rightfully mine in whole and also to those who deserve their fair share!
I heard judge is reviewing cases now, and supposedly money will be dispersed approx 10 days after that. when i got my letter late march it said few mths all would be settled, so i was hoping end of july. to my knowledge, not only do lawyers get part of settlement , then when judge gives us our settlement amount, they also take out another 1/3 talk about double dipping, its amazing……………
Jerry, I was told that once the Judge decides how much you will receive,you will be sent a letter stateing this,then you have thirty days to respond to this letter.After you respond, then my guess is they will disburse funds.All this stinks, but I was told not to keep asking.Which is rude, when we as clients are going to make them a good living.Lives have been lost and people continue to suffer over all this.Sad, very sad.You’re right it’s amazing…
I am not involved but my wife lost her father due to the recalled lead and her and mother has not been the same since and it has been a true hardship for both of them. I know how lawyers are and they are more worried about getting there money first and the ones that truely are suffering from the lost of a love one are in limbo waiting for there settlement checks to help cover there bills and to put a head stone on her fathers gravesite. I hope that it works out for everyone involved in this lawsuit but what ever money that gets handed out will never be enough to replace the loss of a loved one!!! R.I.P. Bill B. we love and miss you!!!
So sorry for your loss. Did the defective LEAD shock him so much that he expired ? or was it other complications ? Regards.
Yes it kept shocking him and would not stop which lead to him to expire.
Hey Chris, my name is Bill– i was shocked 138 times. Never needed the first one. In other words my heart was fine. Happened over 4.5 hrs, never knew if the next shock was going to be my final one. Got it replaced, wouldnt you know it, recalled as well
As usual it is always “we need this info/signature by yesterday so we can complete your settlement” As usual a long period of no contact and no info. As usual the injured parties are waiting for a settlement that was already set aside by the company. I am sure the interest earned by the set aside money is substantial and reduces the sting felt by Medtronic. We all know that that kind of money never sits anywhere making zero interest. In all fairness the interest earned should be added to the settlement. $268,000,000 @3% for 1 yr is $8,040,000…at 5% it is $13,400,000 I realize that has not been 1 yr since the settlement but I believe it will be 1 yr before money is disbursed. Is just very frustrating to have been injured by Medtronic and see all the headlines of settlement but have to sit and wonder when if ever there will be any compensation.
Jerry, Not happening! We’ll all be lucky to get anything, interest not happening!!
But interest is being accrued… don’t kid yourself. and to best of my knowledge, Medtronic has that money vested to earn as it sits waiting for dispersal!
Jus wondering does everyone have a lawyer? My father passed away in May and previously filed a suit, which my uncle was helping him with. Now my uncle says that he is working with Medtronic and we can’t get a lawyer or we will loose out and that we are to only work with Medtronic. My uncle has the paper work which he briefly let me see, however I want to know how to find out the status and how to get copies of the claim as he is not giving them to me. Thank you for your help!!
JJ, I don’t know anything about you case, but your uncle has no right to be taking care of your fathers lawsuit unless you have give him permission. They only person who should have control is your father’s wife, if he had one, or you and any sibling you have. Don’t let sticky fingers uncle Mo do anything, it may not be in your best interest. YOU GET A LAWYER.
JJ, AGREED WITH BOB! You get hold of those papers. Not to be nosy or a know-it-all, but I say something stinks and I believe your uncle is trying to get the money! Just because he helped your dad doesn’t mean he gets the goods! Do you know the name of the attorney? Just having that will help you …. Be sure to call or better yet, visit their office!!! Good luck!
I agree with JJ. Unless you uncle is willing to give you copies of documents and/or keep you abreast of the case staTus, I would threaten to get an independent attorney. You have a right to know what’s going on since you are a direct descendant. Based upon your description of the situation, I’d say old Unck is acting kind of shady.
RE: UPDATE — Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Lead Litigation Settlement
Dear Client:
We are writing to give you an update regarding your Medtronic Sprint Fidelis settlement. The Settlement Allocation Committee has met continuously for the last two months to review the claims. Unfortunately, the Settlement Allocation committee has not yet finished the work of determining the individual settlement amounts.
We do not know for certain when they are going to be finished, or when the checks will be distributed, but we anticipate that it will be sometime towards the end of the year. We know that this is frustrating, and we share your disappointment that this has not wrapped up already. But, in light of the more than 14,000 claims to be reviewed, the process is slower than we anticipated. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We recieved this today by email.
Is amazinghow the numbers change. So are we now at 14000 claims when the original settlement said 8100 claims….
“There are reportedly an estimated 8,100 Sprint Fidelis Leads personal injury recall cases filed or served against Medtronic that may be eligible to participate in the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads settlement.”
Wonder where the other 6000 claims came from?
Imagine that!!! We were told that by the end of August the checks would be handed out!!! Nothing has came in the mail regarding this current e-mail, and yes the number was 8,100 now 14,000!! It has to be last minute new claims that has brought the number up.
I can jsut about bet the lawyer has been paid. All i can say is RIDICULOUS!
You know that they got there money right off the top. Lawyers are in it for there selves and that is the bottom LINE!!!!!!!
I think they are waiting for us all to die! Seriously as someone said , this is ridiculous. I doubt that I will ever get involved in another class action case or recommend to anyone to. So far, it has not been worth it. This has caused me just as much, if not more stress than the issues I had with the defibrillator.
Have to say that I think Btrot54 Hit the nail right on the head. Another thought is maybe the people reviewing the various claims are all ex congressmen and senators…I mean look at the mess they have made. As per original settlement there were 3 classes..1) people who had the implants but so far no problems 2) people that have already had a fracture of the leads and have had them replaced 3) people who have been shocked or died…addendum is that people in class 1 could qualify for class 2 or 3 if it occurs in the next 7 years. Now how hard is it to review the cases. Just typical hurry up and wait.
My wife was asulted! She recived 33 shocks because a federal judge ruled that the company who was aware that the leades were potentaly a problem couldn’t be held liable because a so called judge ruled they had been approved by the FDA so Medtronics couldn’t be liable. When I contacted my congresman and asked what was being done he told me that they couldn’t interfear with the court syestem. About one out of every five dollars in this country is spent on health care. Who do you think owns the people? Who do they work for? Get on line and see how much money is put into their campaine fund by these groups and see what commitee they are setting on. Then you will start to understand how this can happen. My that judge the CEO of Medtronics and our congresmem get to stand there helpless waiting to see if the next shock kills their loved on. One last word our judical syestem is not about what is right it is about the law and who makes the laws?
Well Said!
OK, I have not signed on with this travisty called a settlement. I personally feel the group that should be held accountable is the FDA. After all, judges say they APPORVED the LEADS. I feel everyone who has written onto this site should immidiatly contact their attorneys and DIRECT them to sue the FDA. This action should be of no further cost to you, the attorney is responcible for getting his/her client the best possible settlement. The attorney is now collecting funds yet their job is incomplete. The judje in this case should be notified immediatly of the intention that the class action party will be bringing suit against the FDA. Let the FDA come out and say it is Medtronics responcibilty, that happens and no one can hide behind the BS they are now handing out.
I will sue, it will be against all Parties involved, every single party that that had anything to do with putting a device in my body when it was already known of it’s chance to fail and CAUSE HARM
OK, I have not signed on with this travesty called a settlement. I personally feel the group that should be held accountable is the FDA. After all, judges say they APPORVED the LEADS. I feel everyone who has written onto this site should immediately contact their attorneys and DIRECT them to sue the FDA. This action should be of no further cost to you, the attorney is responsible for getting his/her client the best possible settlement. The attorney is now collecting funds yet their job is incomplete. The judge in this case should be notified immediately of the intention that the class action party will be bringing suit against the FDA. Let the FDA come out and say it is Medtronic’s responsibility, that happens and no one can hide behind the BS they are now handing out.
I will sue, it will be against all Parties involved, every single party that that had anything to do with putting a device in my body when it was already known of its chance to fail and CAUSE HARM. They better get on their knees and pray this damn thing does not shock me for any undo reason.
Ron
How in the hell can FDA approve a life saving device that has not been tested and say the company that made the device is not liable for its malfuction
Ron, where do you come up with such non-sense. You can’t sue anyone, most states statue of limitations run out at the end of year 2. We are at almost the end of year 4. And have you ever read Reigel vs Medtronic, it states that you cannot sue people like Medtronic. A suite will go no where. We have all been there and it was just alot of hoopla trying to get passage of MDSA. That has went no where.
I don’t know why you didn’t sign the settlement, if you get anything, it would have been thru this program. and now you are no part of it. Sounds like you are bitter that things did not go better on your behalf. Welcome to the club. I suggest you pray that you never get shocked unless you really need it. It is no fun and I suggest you get on your knees and pray, God is the only one you will get anything from.
Laverne, the FDA did not say it, the Supreme Court did. The FDA has nothing whatso ever to do with the lawsuit. I suggest you Google Reigel vs medtronic and read so you can understand
BOB,
THE FDA APPROVED THE LEADS FOR USE. YES THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO AREAS UNDER THEIR CONTROL. YOUR COMMENTS ARE THOSE OF SHEEP. GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR A–.
YES THE COURTS RULED NO WE DO NOT HAVE TO SIT AND LIKE IT. THERE IS MORE THAN ONE CASE OUT THERE THAT NEEDS A REVIEW.
THE BUCK IS JUST BEING PASSED DOWN THE LINE WITH NO ONE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.(THIS SETTLEMENT IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY) THE FDA IS THE CULPRET THEY APPROVED OF IT’S USE WHICH IN TURN ALLOWED MEDTRONICS TO PUT IT IN THE MARKETPLACE. PERIOD. I SUGGEST YOU BOB LOOK AT GOVERMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY OR LACK OF.
WHILE THE SUPREME COURT SAYS MEDTRONICS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE, SOMEONE IS, AND IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE WHO RECIEVED THEM.
WE KNOW WHAT THE COURTS SAID BOB, THAT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT, AND CERTAINLY DOES NOT JUSTIFY WHAT IS HAPPINING TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WHERE INCORRECTLY TREATED WITH FAILING DEVICES THAT THE MANUFACTURE NEW HAD A RATE OF FAILURE, OR THAT WERE MISS REPRESENTED BY ALL THE ATTORNEYS THAT HANDELED THIS CASE.
THE FDA, SUPREME COURT AND MEDTRONICS ALL SCREWED THIS UP. TIME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, BOB
YOU THINK I WAS BITTER BEFORE, YOUR COMMENTS MAKE ME BITTER BOB.
RON
Has anyone noticed that the tainted turkey meet has stired up the media. Don’t you find it strange that this problem has not been all over the news? Fact is the majority of the common folks would not stand for what has been done to you and your loved ones if they had a clue. The judge that made the ruleing that Medtronics couldn’t be held accoountable knows what a jury of 12 would say so big money that controls him and our elected officals couldn’t allow it to go through regular court. Health care controls our goverment bought and paid for. Ross of Arkansas was of of them om the commitee that was supposed to look into such ruleings. Go on line and take a look at where he made his money and who paid for most of his run for office. Follow the money. We have a legal syestem not a justice syestem. If it were justice most of our goverment would be in jail along with the judges and attorney that claime to represent you. We have the greatest goverment in the world. Problem is it is ran by people who are there serving their own cause. Next time someone runs for office and his oppisition says he has no experience. Vote for him mabey we will get one that knows right from wrong.
Here to day!
Gone tomorrow!
Show me the money!
It is what it is!
Whatever!
Well this is the month that they told us that my wifes mother would receive the check for my father in laws passing due to the lead shocking him 31 times . i hope this does not happen to no one else that still has this lead in them. once again there will never be enough money in this world that will bring him back. R.I.P Bill we miss you!!!
They make you bitter Ron, but the truth is the truth. You cannot change something that has no way to change. All I can say is good luck and I hope we all get the most possible. As a category III I was shocked 6 times but I survived and I love every day. Good Luck!
has anyone received information from hollis law firm stating the change in claimants? has anyone ever received ant information on the progress of these claims,last time i heard anything was in march
My mother was shocked about 10 times by her pacemaker/defib last Spring, then spent months trying to come back from it. In January of this year she received a big package of information that had to be filled out right away and mailed off and she has never heard a thing since, not a letter, not an email, nothing.
What are these lawyers doing? You can bet if she gets any money they will take their 40 % straight away.
I had my Pace/defib installed on 9/27/2007. Since this date I was hospitalized on three seperate occasions after having heart attacts. The first heart attact was 12/15/2007 (3 months after the implant). The second was in july of 2010, and the third was in april of 2012. I delayed getting the thing replaced earlier because of the warning that replacing it was riskier than keeping it in place. I finally allowed the thing to be replaced and am now free of worry that a lead might fracture and cause me serious injury and/ or death. Yep, I now sleep better at night! For the record, I was always informed that the worthless piece of shit wasn’t responsible for causing the heart attacts. Go figure..
well here it is the middle of august and back in march the law form told us the checks would be issued by the end of summer, that is also the last time they have contacted us and the only new news i hear is on this website. good luck to all and hopefully this will be settled soon.
I was rereading my mothers paperwork from her attorneys today that she received at the end of last year. There are three tiers of payment systems according to her paperwork. The first tier, payment of $1000-2500 if you had the implanted bad leads but DID not have a lead fracture or have them removed. Second tier payment is if you had lead fracture or lead removed no money amounts given. Third tier if death resulted etc.
So most people are not going to probably get anything. Also insurance and Medicare has to get paid back first and then attorney fees have to be taken out too.
By the way from what I understand it is really dangerous to have these leads removed and only a few surgeons and hospitals in the country do it and only if the lead has fractured. they don`t remove them for the hell of it.
Not sure which hospital, but HOUSTON, TX has qualified surgeons to remove the leads, even if fractured! I live about seven hour drive from there and was told I would be Medivac’d to Houston for the surgery. And that all expenses — the transportation, the surgery, etc — would be paid for by Medtronic! That is some sort of comfort, but what if it goes nuts on me when I am on vacation or whatever…? Guess I need to carry a letter with me from my surgeon here to instruct me to be Medivac’d from wherever I am at the time. This gets scarier as I think of all the complicating factors! I need the pacer and the defibrillator but I don’t need the stress from not knowing if what should be saving my life is what could kill me!
Patricia
As far as Medtronic paying for lead removal or any other expense somebody is not telling you the truth. My wife has had her leads removed because of fractured wires and I promise all that Medtronic did was have a representative there that turned off the device before the surgery. I was billed for that and then I had to sign more papers for the lawyer because it seems that we have to repay the insurance company because it falls under the subrogation laws saying I cannot profit from insurance. Do not understand that in that it was 2 seperate surgeries and how in the hell did I profit other than thank God I still have my wife with me.
I agree with Larry, I had to have mine replaced and the only thing Medtronic has paid for is the new lead. I think your doctor does not understand what we are really faced with. Medtronic is a Corp. giant, not a doctor in a small town. I understand what the Doctor thinks, it just doesn’t work in the corporate world. I would never say never, but it just doesn’t happen. Hope it does’t happen to you. GOOD LUCK!