Between 1979 and 1986 thousands of people worldwide were fitted with Shiley CC Heart Valves. During this seven-year period they were withdrawn twice due to fears regarding their safety, but they were then put back on sale.
In 1986 the manufacturers, Californian based Shiley, voluntarily withdrew them. It was established that a select number of the valves were prone to fracture inside the heart and as a result many patients fitted with the faulty valves had died. The media likened them to 'time bombs' waiting to explode.
Alexander Harris spearheaded the claims for compensation brought about by victims throughout the UK who were either enduring devastating emotional trauma, not knowing if their valve was going to suddenly break, or acting on claims where the valve had already fractured.
We successfully recovered substantial damages in an out of court settlement (confidentiality agreements prevent disclosure of the exact sums). This was, and still is, an emotionally charged litigation and we empathise with our clients who are angry with the manufacturers for continuing to sell the valves after they had been shown to be unsafe.
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It has been a long and difficult litigation and I wish to thank your team for achieving a worthwhile result against odds stacked against you: Roy, Leics
