The four could become the first white-collar defendants imprisoned under the 1975 “Park Doctrine,” which holds corporate officers responsible for company actions, whether or not they intended to break the law. The Synthes defendants are former North America President Michael D. Huggins, former Senior Vice President Thomas B. Higgins, Vice President Richard E. Bohner and Director of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs John J. Walsh.
The executives Synthes executives pleaded guilty in 2009 to one misdemeanor count each for their parts in the scheme. They could face up to a year in prison for their participation. Synthes and Norrian have already agreed to pay $23.2 million in damages. In April, Johnson & Johnson announced it would acquire Synthes for $21.3 billion.
Read the Philadelphia Inquirer report on Synthes.
Related Articles on Synthes:
Synthes Executives Indicted for Encouraging Unauthorized Trials
Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Synthes for $21.3B
Synthes and Norian Corp. to Pay $23.2M in Fines for Illegally Testing Spinal Bone Cement
