In April 2010, after 6 heart patients died due to faulty defibrillators, the U.S. government charged Guidant Corporation with failing to alert doctors and patients that some of its heart defibrillators had a defect that might cause them to fail. The company was willing to plead guilty to two misdemeanors and pay a $296 million fine. A federal judge refused to accept the plea bargain.
(a) What potential civil suits might arise from this scenario?
(b) Research: Find out how the criminal case against Guidant finally ended.