Create a free Industrial Equipment News account to continue

Inventor Wins $112M in Medtronic Royalties Dispute

The dispute was over medical devices he invented and sold to the company.

Ohq Close jpg thumb 1280 1280

PLYMOUTH, Ind. (AP) — A northern Indiana jury has awarded a doctor $112 million in his dispute with medical device maker Medtronic over devices he invented and sold to the company.

A Marshall County jury found in Dr. Rick C. Sasso's favor last week, awarding him the damages. Sasso is president of Carmel, Indiana-based Indiana Spine Group.

He sued Medtronic, alleging that it violated a contract by not paying royalties he was due for spinal implants and screw-implant systems he invented and sold to the Minnesota-based company.

Those systems generated annual sales of more than $200 million for Medtronic.

The company paid Sasso more than $20 million in royalties, but his suit accused Medtronic of shortchanging him.

Medtronic spokeswoman Sara Thatcher says the company is "disappointed" and is weighing whether to appeal the verdict.

More in Operations