Safety Syringe Case
This case is shown in the foreground during the movie. During the 1990s in the United States, most hospitals were using plastic syringes that could easily break and infect health care workers. Each year many of them became infected and died because of accidents related to those syringes.[4] An inventor developed an auto-retractable and single use syringe in order to protect nurses from infection. However, he had trouble selling his safety syringe invention because the (GPO) Group Purchasing Organization refused to adopt to his new, more expensive, safer syringes.[7][8] The inventor turned his hope toward Mike Weiss and Paul Danzigner with those issues. Together, Mike and Paul wrote a lawsuit against the GPOs, the case never went to trial. It is only many years later that Mark Lanier concluded the case for 150 million US dollars.[4]
Other Mysterious GPO Deaths
Following the movie's civil case, a criminal investigation had been previously initiated by the US Attorney's Dallas office against the GPOs. Unfortunately, the two US attorneys working on the investigation both died under mysterious circumstances. Shannon K. Ross died suddenly because of an inflammation of the meninges, spinal cord, and roots of the spinal nerves, scientifically called meningomyeloradiculitis. Thelma Quince Colber was found drowned in his pool at the age of 55. Both deaths happened within one week of each other, and afterwards three other assistant US attorneys working on that case were fired or forced to resign. The investigation was then called off.[4][9][10][11][12]
Death
Michael David Weiss died at the age of 32, Saturday the 2nd October 1999. While the movie could suggest that he could have been followed the night of his death and assassinated, the official cause of his death is from a drug overdose. The authorities did not pursue further investigation.[1] The transcript of his memorial service is available online, it was held at The United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Ceremonial Courtroom.[13]
