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www.fdanews.com/articles/174555-jj-unit-to-pay-nearly-80m-in-damages-caused-by-hemorrhoid-stapler

J&J Unit to Pay Nearly $80M in Damages Caused by Hemorrhoid Stapler

December 16, 2015

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon Endo-Surgery will pay a total of $79.8 million to plaintiffs in punitive and compensatory damages after a jury determined the company was responsible for injuries to clients caused by a defective Ethicon PPH 03 hemorrhoid stapler.

The main plaintiff, Florence Kuhlmann, suffered a sealed anal canal and a ruptured bowel from the use of the device, and has been forced to wear a colostomy bag for the past four years. She also has had several unsuccessful medical procedures in attempts to fix the problem, according to the Alexander Law Group. The other plaintiff was Kuhlmann’s husband, John Perkins.

The jury found that the company failed to manufacture the product according to its design requirements, with the force to fire the stapler exceeding specifications. — Michael Cipriano