New Mexico Jury Awards $67M in Damages in Pacemaker Lawsuit

New Mexico jurors have awarded a pacemaker patient more than $67 million in damages in a lawsuit.

The Albuquerque Journal reported a 3rd Judicial District Court jury in Las Cruces on Monday found German pacemaker manufacturer Biotronik negligent in the case of Tommy Sowards.

Sowards claimed in his suit that he was unnecessarily implanted with a pacemaker as a result of an alleged conspiracy between the company, a Las Cruces doctor and a hospital to boost sales of the device.

The jury awarded $2.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.

Similar complaints against Biotronik by 33 other plaintiffs are pending in Santa Fe.

Sowards was seeking about $120 million in damages including $115 in punitive damages.

There was no immediate word from Biotronik on a possible appeal.