Esteemed law firm Seyfarth Shaw and its client, a subsidiary of Stryker Corp., are facing approximately $275,000 in sanctions over discovery violations. This was brought about by a federal judge who claimed they had indulged in less than savoury litigation tactics.
The pivotal sanction order was brought forth this Wednesday, amongst the backdrop of a contract dispute between Stryker-owned medical device manufacturer Howmedica Osteonics Corporation and ORP Surgical LLP, a former distributor of Stryker products. Court documents depicted an intense legal battle. The trial in May 2022 saw US District Court for the District of Colorado Judge R. Brooke Jackson commanding Howmedica to pay over $4 million in damages, over $2 million in attorneys’ fees, in addition to roughly $70,000 as a sanction for impropriety.
The judge expressed concerns that the firm was playing ‘fast and loose’ with discovery, which he eventually deemed as unreasonable, if not excessive. His sentiments illustrate the increasing scrutiny law firms face regarding litigation behavior, and serve as a stark reminder that ethics in practice is not only encouraged but enforced.
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