A federal judge in Colorado has sanctioned Chicago-based law firm Seyfarth Shaw and its client, Stryker Corp., ordering each to pay half the cost of the special master appointed by the court to manage a contentious discovery process.

According to the May 10 findings of fact, conclusions of law and order of judgment by U.S. District Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson of the District of Colorado, plaintiff ORP Surgical had a contract with Howmedica Osteonics Corp, a subsidiary of Stryker, for the sale of medical implants used in joint replacement surgeries. Stryker has a subsidiary company to sell its products, but contracted with ORP for additional commission based sales.