RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. — Applied Medical said a U.S. District Court jury has found Medtronic liable for violations of federal and state antitrust laws, awarding $381.7 million in damages following a trial centered on competition in the medical device market.
The unanimous verdict came after a 10-day jury trial in Los Angeles. Jurors concluded that Medtronic violated the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the California Cartwright Act through exclusionary conduct, including unlawful bundling and exclusive dealing practices.
Applied Medical filed the lawsuit in February 2023, alleging that Medtronic used restrictive contracts with healthcare providers to suppress competition in the market for advanced bipolar vessel sealing devices. According to the company, these practices limited access to alternative technologies and stifled innovation.
Following the verdict, Applied Medical said it plans to seek injunctive relief to prevent Medtronic from continuing to enforce the contractual restrictions found to be unlawful.
“We are profoundly grateful to the jury for their time, their attention to the evidence, and their decisive verdict,” said Gary Johnson, group president, advanced energy, who represented Applied Medical throughout the trial. “This is not just a legal victory for Applied; it is a validation of fair competition. We believe this decision marks a turning point for hospitals and healthcare providers struggling to dismantle complex contractual barriers that have long prevented them from access to innovation, choice and value.”
