SILICON VALLEY: An Indian-American man has been awarded USD 40.1 million as compensation in the US after a malfunctioning machine burnt his heart, forcing him to go for a transplant.

Lawyers for Paramjit Singh, 54, had asked for up to USD 38 million in damages and the award is the one of the largest personal injury verdicts in the US state of Washington, lawyers said. Singh had checked into Providence Everett Medical Center in October 2004 for cardiac surgery.

However a monitor malfunctioned, causing a catheter to overheat and burn his heart, his lawyer said in a statement. Edwards which manufactured the monitor blamed Providence for using a damaged cable. The jury ordered Edwards to pay 99.99 per cent of the damages to Singh and his family while Providence will pay the remaining.

The decision came after five weeks of testimony and argument. Singh is suffering other health problems as a result of the injury and is forced to take anti-rejection drugs after the heart transplant, lawyers were quoted as saying by Heraldnet.Com.

The award included USD8.35 million in punitive damages. Edwards Life sciences claimed the award of punitive damages will not withstand the scrutiny of the higher court. Edwards also was ordered to pay Providence USD310,000 for breaching a contract and fraud.

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