Boston Scientific comments on patent verdict

Natick medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. issued a statement this morning following an order yesterday by a federal jury to pay $250 million to another company for patent infringement.

Boston Scientific said in its statement: "Boston Scientific has raised a number of defenses that were not considered by this jury but will be heard by the District Court on July 31.  If those defenses are successful, the jury's verdict will be set aside."

Boston Scientific added: "If those defenses are not successful, the company plans to seek to overturn the verdict in post-trial motions before the District Court and, if necessary, to appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C.  The company is confident it will prevail on appeal because it believes the jury verdict is unsupported by both the evidence and the law."

Yesterday a federal jury in Texas ordered the company to $250 million to Medtronic Inc., a Minnesota maker of heart-rhythm devices, for infringing patents on catheters used to install stents and break up blockages.

The judge in the case has the option of increasing the award to as much as $750 million.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)