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Las Cruces Jurors Award $67 Million In Lawsuit Over Pacemaker

Jurors have awarded a pacemaker patient more than $67 million in damages in a lawsuit.

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.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.