Jury Finds J&J; Patent for Stents Was Infringed

A federal court jury decided a Johnson & Johnson patent for stents used to prop open coronary arteries was infringed by competitor Boston Scientific Corp.

The verdict in Wilmington, Del., came after a weeklong retrial of an 8-year-old lawsuit in which another jury in 2000 ordered Boston Scientific to pay Johnson & Johnson’s Cordis unit $324 million for infringement. After a review, Chief U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson had ordered a new trial in the case.

“We do plan to appeal the verdict,” Boston Scientific spokesman Charles Rudnick said. J&J; is asking for the original award plus interest.

Shares of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson fell 11 cents to $68.09 , while Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific rose 8 cents to $29.08. Both trade on the NYSE.