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HEALTH CARE

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Shiley Inc. Wins Round in Court: The state Supreme Court has ordered a panel to review a decision that allows out-of-state recipients of a potentially defective heart valve to sue the device’s Irvine-based manufacturer in California. About 130 out-of-state recipients who have valves that have not malfunctioned are pursuing legal action because of their fear that the devices will do so. About 300 people have died when the struts in the valves have come apart. Valve manufacturer Shiley Inc. and its corporate parent, Pfizer Inc. in New York, have argued that the recipients, by bringing their cases to California, are “forum shopping” for the court most likely to support their claims of fraud and emotional distress. The Supreme Court’s decision orders an appeal panel to reconsider the venue issue.

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