Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Systems

Michigan Attorneys Assisting Victims of Defective Products

Of all the places where a person should have assurance that the environment is as sterile as possible, an operating room in which open heart surgery is performed would be near the top of most people’s lists. Unfortunately, an allegedly defective device known as the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler System is believed by many to be capable of emitting harmful bacteria into an otherwise sterile surgical room, compromising the health of patients undergoing invasive surgery. The Traverse City and Grand Rapids heater-cooler injury lawyers at the Neumann Law Group are prepared to file claims on behalf of patients in Michigan who believe that they have suffered harm due to a Stockert 3T.

The Stockert 3T heater-cooler is a device used to keep surgical patients warm while also using cold water to cause temporary cessation of cardiac activity. Recently, there have been allegations that an M. chimaera bacteria (a subspecies of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)) may grow inside the water tanks of some Stockert 3Ts. The device may then emit the bacteria through an exhaust fan, allowing possible contamination into the patient’s body. If a patient becomes infected with the bacteria, he or she may suffer a serious illness or even die.

Holding Manufacturers of Defective Heater-Coolers Responsible for Patient Injuries

As with other types of defective or unreasonably dangerous products, people who have suffered harm due to a bacterial illness caused by the Stockert 3T have the option of filing a product liability lawsuit with the assistance of a heater-cooler injury attorney in Traverse City or Grand Rapids. A successful claim can result in substantial money damages to compensate the injured person for medical expenses necessitated by the faulty product, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages are rarely awarded in product liability cases, but they are a possibility if the court finds that a particular defendant’s conduct was egregious enough to warrant exemplary damages. Each case is unique and must be pursued on its own merits. The value of a case depends upon many circumstances. A compensation award or settlement that is deemed fair in one case may be too much or too little in a case with different facts.

The plaintiff has the burden of proving liability by a preponderance of the evidence. Most tort cases involve a combination of lay testimony, the opinions of professional experts, medical testimony concerning the nature, extent, cause, and prognosis of the patient’s injuries, information concerning the lost income or loss of earning capacity of the injured person, and physical evidence. A Traverse City or Grand Rapids heater-cooler injury attorney can help you gather all of this evidence and present it persuasively. The jury must determine the credibility and weight to be given to the conflicting testimony of the parties and representatives, carefully following the judge’s instructions regarding the case. Regardless of which side prevails at trial, there is often the possibility of an appeal by the losing side. Because of the complexity of product liability cases based on manufacturing, design, or marketing defects, a claim should be filed as soon as possible. Among other reasons, this helps assure that a claim will be timely and not subject to dismissal based on the statute of limitations or another procedural rule.

Talk to an Experienced Product Liability Lawyer in Michigan

If you believe that you or a family member has suffered harm because of a defective Stockert 3T heater-cooler system, it is important that you speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. The product liability attorneys at the Neumann Law Group handle these and other cases involving injuries or death caused by defective or unreasonably dangerous consumer products, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. To schedule an appointment to discuss your case with a heater-cooler injury lawyer in Grand Rapids or Traverse City, call us at (800) 525-6386 or contact us online. We are also reviewing cases on behalf of people in Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Muskegon, Midland, Holland, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Wyoming, Saginaw, Warren, Petoskey, and the Upper Peninsula.