La. jury rules in favor of plaintiff in Electrochem suit, awards $21.7 million in damages

Plaintiff wins Electrochem suit, awarded damages

CLARENCE, N.Y. — Electrochem Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of medical components maker Greatbatch Inc., said Thursday a Louisiana jury found in favor of a plaintiff in a suit against the unit and awarded damages of $21.7 million for lost profit.

The plaintiff, a former customer of Electrochem, had alleged breach of contract, unfair trade practices and fraudulent trade practices in its suit, which arose out of a failed business transaction related to sales of Electrochem’s commercial battery business.

Electrochem Senior Vice President Susan Bratton expressed shock over the verdict saying it “does not accurately reflect how we conduct our business.”

“To put it in perspective, Electrochem’s profit for that battery for the past eight years totals less than $1 million, and given the conditions in the energy markets, is not expected to increase appreciably in the foreseeable future,” said Bratton, in a statement.

Electrochem previously won the case in February 2007, but the plaintiff appealed the ruling and in January 2008, the Louisiana Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the trial court and reinstated the case.