Siemens drops heart catheter trade secret suit
A medical technology subsidiary of Siemens has settled a lawsuit against a former vice president, who it accused of stealing trade secrets related to heart catheter devices.
In mid-November, Siemens Healthineers filed a lawsuit at the US District Court of the Southern District of New York, claiming that Anthony Medigo had stolen the trade secrets to assist his new employer, NuVera Medical, in developing a rival product.
According to the suit, Siemens Healthineers had developed a catheter which, unlike previous devices, didn’t require anaesthesia. This led to the launch of its first ‘3D/4D ICE Catheter’ in 2012, known as the AcuNav V followed by the AcuNav Volume ICE Catheter in 2018.
Medigo joined Siemens Healthineers in 2016. Three years later, he was promoted to the position of global vice president—intracardiac catheter business.
However, after a temporary recall of its catheters in March 2020, Siemen decided to reduce staff, including Medigo. The complaint alleged that, as part of his severance package, Medigo was paid $405,000 and reaffirmed the confidentiality agreement he had signed.
Then, in September this year, Medigo began his employment as chief commercial officer for California-based company NuVera.
“Medigo's employment at NuVera places him in a position where he will be expected to, and will provide assistance to NuVera in connection with Siemens Healthineers, and in particular its AcuNav Volume ICE Catheter, with which NuVera's product will compete directly," the filing said.
But, in a filing submitted on Tuesday, December 1, the parties agreed to dismiss the suit.
As part of the settlement, Medigo has agreed not to work on any product or service for NuVera that would compete with products he worked on in his last two years at Siemens until November 17, 2021.
Medigo is also enjoined from using or disclosing Siemens confidential information, and soliciting or participating in the solicitation of any person or entity doing business with Siemens Healthineers.
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