Whistleblower Files Suit Against H-P, Agilent

A former production manager at Hewlett-Packard is accusing the company and its spin-off company Agilent Technologies of marketing and selling defective medical equipment, according to published reports. Filed in California Superior Court, the suit contends that H-P had falsely certified that it had complied with FDA requirements, including reporting product failures, investigating them and addressing the problems.

Robert Hindin, a former production manager with the company, said he was wrongly fired in 1997 after uncovering improper manufacturing practices and bringing them to management’s attention. He said he was fired when he contacted the FDA about the problems.

Products specified in the complaint include anesthesia gas monitors, pulse oximeters and ultrasound imaging transducers.

A spokesperson for Agilent said the company does not comment on pending litigation but that it would “aggressively” defend itself.