In the midst of a recent Minnesota class action lawsuit over faulty defibrillator wires, Medtronic, Inc. is facing allegations in Texas that include civil theft of a previously implanted Medtronic device. Fort Worth residents, David and Elisha Kuhn filed suit on Oct. 19 against Medtronic in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.

David Kuhn had a Medtronic dorsal column stimulator surgically implanted to provide pain relief with stimulation through electrodes. According to the Kuhn's lawsuit, a Medtronic column stimulator implanted in Kuhn began to malfunction causing him distress and severe pain. In January 2006, the medical device was surgically removed and sent to a Medtronic representative for evaluation. Kuhn claims he has requested to have the device returned but has been unsuccessful and now Medtronic has destroyed the device or spoiled evidence of the alleged malfunction.

Read the full text of the article at the Southeast Texas Record website [off-site link].