Biomet Counsel Fined $1,000 for Making Unreasonable Arguments

An Indianapolis attorney representing Biomet Inc. was hit with a $1,000 fine for advancing unreasonable arguments in a breach of contract case involving commissions for medical device distribution.

Defense counsel for Biomet “put forth baseless arguments in front of the Court, based on unreasonable interpretations of law, which have delayed resolution of this case,” Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio of the US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana ruled Wednesday.

Arguing that the distributors had waived their right to dispute long-term commissions, defense counsel cited an 1870 case as setting the modern-day standard of waiver, DeGuilio said. The ...