PLYMOUTH — A surgeon and inventor, formerly from Warsaw, was awarded $112.5 million in damages stemming from a lawsuit that began in Kosciusko County and moved to neighboring Marshall County.

Dr. Rick C. Sasso, emerged triumphant from the nearly month-long jury trial after it was decided he was entitled to money he earned during a partnership with orthopedic conglomerate Medtronic.

Dr. Rick Sasso

The case, originally filed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court, was transferred to Plymouth due to Judge Michael Reed’s acquaintance with the plaintiff’s family.

The decision was rendered on Tuesday, Nov. 27, with Marshall County Circuit Court Judge Curtis Palmer presiding.

Sasso was not able to be reached for comment, but Jere L. Humphrey, a member of his legal team, said Sasso and his wife, April, were ecstatic about the outcome of the case.

“He is elated about it,” said Humphrey. “We were able to go back and talk to the jury after it was all over and they talked to Dr. Sasso and April and told them they knew this was not about the money with him. This was about his inventions and how he strives to help his patients and also other surgeons. This was about something more important and the jury picked up on that.”

Sara Thatcher from Medtronic said the company disagrees.

“Scientific and engineering collaboration between physicians and industry is vital to innovation and advancing patient care, and we are committed to paying fair value for intellectual property contributions,” said Medtronic in its official statement. “Medtronic values its relationships with physicians, but in our view the plaintiff in this case sought payment far in excess of the value of his contributions. We respect and appreciate the jury, but are disappointed in the verdict in this matter. We are in the process of evaluating our appellate options and plan to challenge this verdict in post-trial motions and appeal the verdict on various grounds.”

Sasso filed his first patent in 1994 after he invented a device, which used screws and rods to stabilize the neck. In 1998, Sasso entered into a collaboration with Sofamor Danek Group. That company later became part of Medtronic. Early agreements that later became part of the lawsuit involved cash payments for Sasso’s inventions, stock options and percentages of sales of Sasso’s devices.

In court documents, Medtronic lawyers maintained that the amounts requested were too high.

Sasso is currently professor of orthopedic surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine.