August 8, 2005—Windsor personal injury lawyer Greg Monforton today announced that his law firm has partnered with Toronto lawyer James Newland of Lerners LLP to commence a national class action lawsuit on behalf of all Canadians who have received potentially defective defibrillators and pacemakers manufactured by Guidant Corporation.

Monforton, senior partner of Greg Monforton & Partners and President-Elect of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, said that class action proceedings will be commenced in Ontario and in British Columbia.

Monforton said: “As our investigation unfolds, we have deepening concerns about the conduct of Guidant Corporation. This company knew of significant problems with certain models of defibrillators and pacemakers yet did nothing to warn medical professionals and patients of these problems. As a result, patients do not know if their implant will work or if it will fail. We believe Guidant misled its own shareholders, the medical community and the public by marketing and distributing devices that it knew carried a significant risk of failure. We also believe that Guidant pursued profit at the expense of the safety and well being of the general public”.

Monforton said that his law firm has partnered with James Newland because of his extensive experience in medical device litigation, including his role as lead counsel in the Canadian National Class Action involving the St. Jude Medical Silzone heart valve, which was subject to a worldwide recall in 2000.