We represented patients who developed nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections after undergoing cardiac bypass surgery, infections traced to a recalled heater-cooler device used in the operating room.
Rather than folding these clients into a class action, we pursued each case individually, litigating in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, California, Nevada, and Georgia. The investigation required international discovery, including depositions taken in the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, to establish how the device caused these life-threatening infections.
Why This Case Matters
NTM infections following cardiac surgery are difficult to trace and even harder to prove. These infections often develop slowly, sometimes months after surgery, making it easy for manufacturers to distance themselves from the cause. Establishing that a specific device was responsible required proving how contaminated water systems within the equipment aerosolized bacteria directly into the surgical field.
By pursuing each client's case individually rather than consolidating them into a class action, Atlee Hall ensured that each patient's specific injuries, medical history, and damages were fully accounted for rather than averaged into a single settlement pool. That approach demanded far more investment and coordination, but it protected the individual value of each client's claim.
