RECALLS, LAWSUITS MAKE MEDICAL DEVICE MERGER HAIRY

Boston Scientific triumphed last month in the fierce merger war for Guidant, outlasting Johnson & Johnson with a $27 billion offer. But now Boston Scientific and Guidant, leading heart-device makers in the growing $250 billion market for medical devices and supplies, must ride out a legal and regulatory storm that could slow their deal, delay products and lead to costly court judgments and government penalties. The companies face investigations, product-liability lawsuits and warnings from the Food and Drug Administration to correct problems at their manufacturing sites.
USA Today