IRVINE, Calif., February 9, 2026 – A team from Knobbe Martens obtained a decisive win for medical device manufacturer Applied Medical against Medtronic, Inc. in an antitrust case involving anticompetitive bundling and exclusive dealing that Applied alleged penalized hospitals for adopting competitive technologies.
Applied Medical alleged that Medtronic monopolized the market for advanced bipolar devices, which are surgical devices that seal blood vessels during surgery. Following a nearly three-week trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, a jury returned a verdict awarding more than $381 million in damages to Applied Medical, finding that Medtronic violated the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the California Cartwright Act.
Commenting on the verdict, Knobbe Martens partner Stephen Jensen said, “Representing Applied Medical for more than two decades has been an honor, and this verdict sends a strong message: healthcare providers deserve a truly competitive market for lifesaving medical technologies free from exclusionary contractual barriers.”
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The Knobbe Martens team was led by Stephen Jensen, Stephen Larson, Joseph Re, Adam Powell, Kendall Loebakka, and Cheryl Burgess. The team also included Joe Jennings, Nick Zovko, Ben Shiroma, Nefi Oliva, Adam Copeland, and Isabella Pestana.
This is the latest success for Knobbe Martens’ industry-recognized litigation practice that has delivered more than $1 billion in awards to clients in high-profile cases in recent months. This includes a $634 million win in a patent infringement case against Apple in November 2025.
About Knobbe Martens’ Antitrust Litigation Practice
Knobbe Martens’ antitrust practice, co-chaired by Mr. Larson and Mr. Powell, leverages deep technical and IP experience to provide practical, business‑focused counsel across the full spectrum of antitrust issues involving advanced technologies. The firm litigates complex claims—from monopolization, bundling, and tying to group boycotts, conspiracies, price fixing, exclusive dealing, restraint of trade, and patent misuse—and offers strategic guidance that aligns clients’ commercial goals with antitrust compliance while anticipating challenges in antitrust disputes and patent‑related counterclaims.
About Knobbe Martens
Knobbe Martens protects the ideas that drive innovation and propel our world forward. As a leading intellectual property and technology law firm, clients worldwide rely on us to safeguard their products, brands, and technologies through strategic counsel and high-impact litigation. With offices across the U.S., our lawyers and technology specialists collaborate to deliver tailored solutions for clients ranging from multinational corporations to start-ups and emerging companies at every stage. Discover more at www.knobbe.com.
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