University of Michigan Sues St. Jude Medical for Breach of Contract

The University of Michigan is suing St. Jude Medical, alleging breach of their contract giving St. Jude the exclusive right to a patent covering technology used in St Jude's Epic and Trifecta cardiovascular valves. The University of Michigan is suing St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ), accusing the medical device maker of failing to pay $4.3 million in royalties on sales of St. Jude's Epic and Trifecta cardiovascular valves. The university said its deal with the St. Paul, Minn.-based company grants St. Jude the exclusive right to use a Michigan patent covering a "Method of Making Calcification-Resistant Bioprosthetic Tissue," including certain technology described in the patent. In return, the company is to pay a 5% royalty on net sales of the Epic and Trifecta devices.

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