• http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/may/05/verdict-first-hepatitis-c-case/

A jury found two companies that made and distributed the anesthetic
propofol used at Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center liable on multiple
counts Wednesday, awarding a Las Vegas couple more than $5 million in
compensatory damages.

Jurors also determined that punitive damages were warranted against
the drug companies, the amount of which will be determined in a second
round of deliberations.

Henry Chanin, 62, sued Teva Parenteral Medicines Inc. and Baxter
Healthcare Corp., the two companies that made and distributed,
respectively, the anesthetic propofol used at Desert Shadow Endoscopy
Center, where Chanin was infected with hepatitis C during a routine
procedure.

He was among thousands who sued in the wake of an investigation by
the Southern Nevada Health District that linked the outbreak to several
Las Vegas endoscopy centers.

The jury awarded Chanin $3.25 million in compensatory damages. His
wife, Lorraine, was awarded $1.85 million.

Punitive damages will be determined after the jury hears arguments
Thursday afternoon.

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