STERIS SYSTEM 1 (SS1) Class Action Settlement

STERIS Corporation has reached a $20 million class action lawsuit settlement over making unapproved changes to its STERIS SYSTEM 1 processing system that is forcing thousands of Healthcare Providers to switch to another sterilization device. As a result, Healthcare Providers that purchased a STERIS SYSTEM 1 processing system before January 1, 2009, and meet certain other conditions, are eligible to receive valuable benefits under the proposed class action lawsuit settlement, including a cash payment of up to $300 per eligible SS1 device purchased, or credits toward the purchase of a new STERIS product. 

The STERIS SYSTEM 1 class action settlement is the result of a class action lawsuit filed in February 2010 by a Florida surgical center against STERIS Corporation. The surgical center alleged, on behalf of itself and other Healthcare Providers, that STERIS made changes to its SYSTEM 1 processing system (SS1) after its initial clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, without new clearance and, as a result, users must transition to an alternative device by August 2, 2011. The case is called Physicians of Winter Haven LLC, d/b/a Day Surgery Center v. STERIS Corp., No. 1:10-cv-00264-CAB.

There are three groups of Healthcare Providers eligible for benefits under the proposed SYSTEM 1 (SS1) class action settlement:

Sub-Class A: This group is for Healthcare Providers that wish to purchase a new SS1E processing system. Members of Sub-Class A will be eligible for a STERIS SS1E credit in the amount of $1,000.00 per Eligible SS1 Device. The SS1E credit can be applied toward any accessories, parts or consumables for a SS1E, and are valid until December 31, 2012.

Members of Sub-Class A are eligible to recover under the proposed SYSTEM 1 settlement if:

* They are “Healthcare Providers;”

Their SS1 processors appear on the Transition List, as modified, or are shown to have been in use in December 2009 and purchased before January 1, 2009;

* They have purchased, or will purchase, a new SS1E from STERIS on or before December 31, 2012;

* They have returned (pursuant to the Rebate Program), or will return, their SS1 processors, and all related parts, accessories, consumables and sterilant to STERIS’s representative; and

* They submit a Claim Form postmarked by December 31, 2012.

Sub-Class B: This group is for healthcare providers that wish to purchase a new SS1E processing system. Members of Sub-Class B will be eligible to receive, at their option, either: (a) a STERIS Product Credit in the amount of $500.00 per Eligible SS1 Device, or (b) a cash payment from STERIS of $300.00 per Eligible SS1 Device. The STERIS Product Credits can be used toward the purchase of any STERIS product other than the SS1E processor and are valid until December 31, 2012.

Members of Sub-Class A are eligible to recover under the proposed SYSTEM 1 settlement if:

* They are “Healthcare Providers;”

* Their SS1 processors appear on the Transition List, as modified, or are shown to have been in use in December 2009 and purchased before January 1, 2009;

* They have purchased, or will purchase, a new SS1E from STERIS on or before December 31, 2012;

* They have returned (pursuant to the Rebate Program), or will return, their SS1 processors, and all related parts, accessories, consumables and sterilant to STERIS’s representative; and

* They submit a Claim Form postmarked by December 31, 2012.

Sub-Class C: This group is for healthcare providers that no longer have their SS1 processors and thus cannot return them to STERIS. Members of Sub-Class C will be eligible to receive $200 in cash per Eligible SS1 Device.

Members of Sub-Class C are eligible to recover under the proposed SYSTEM 1 settlement if:

* They are “Healthcare Providers;”

* Their previously-owned SS1 processors appear on the Transition List, as modified, or are shown to have been in use in December 2009 and purchased before January 1, 2009; and

* They submit a Claim Form postmarked by December 31, 2012.

Claim forms and more information on your rights in the STERIS SYSTEM 1 (SS1) Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at the Settlement Administrator’s website: www.SterilizerSettlement.com.