puncture

based on a true story

Yes. Puncture (2011) is based on the true story of Houston attorneys Mike Weiss and Paul Danziger, who filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Becton Dickinson and hospital group purchasing organizations (GPOs) on behalf of Retractable Technologies, a company that invented a life-saving retractable safety syringe. The case settled for $100 million in 2004 and led to widespread adoption of safety needles in U.S. hospitals. Paul Danziger served as Executive Producer of the film.

Chris Evans plays Mike Weiss, a brilliant but drug-addicted Houston attorney who takes on a $4.5 billion medical supply corporation to bring safety needles to healthcare workers. The role was Evans' final dramatic performance before starring as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Roger Ebert called his performance “electrifying,” comparing him to Al Pacino and Nicolas Cage.

Michael David Weiss died of a drug overdose on October 2, 1999, at age 32, before the safety needle case went to trial. He was a Harvard-educated philosopher, University of Texas Law graduate, and former clerk for Judge Edith Jones on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. His memorial service was held at the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Ceremonial Courtroom. The case was later settled for $100 million by attorney Mark Lanier.

Puncture was executive produced by Paul Danziger, the real-life attorney who was Mike Weiss’s law partner and co-counsel in the original safety needle case. Danziger wrote the initial autobiographical screenplay, financed the production, and partnered with directors Adam and Mark Kassen to bring the film to the screen. The film premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed by Millennium Entertainment.

Puncture was filmed on location in Houston, Texas — the same city where the real case unfolded. Filming began on February 10, 2010. Real judges who had known Mike Weiss offered their courtrooms, family members served as extras, and paintings from Weiss’s actual house were used as set decoration. The directors chose Houston over Los Angeles for authenticity.

The case depicted in Puncture is the real federal antitrust lawsuit filed by attorneys Mike Weiss and Paul Danziger on behalf of Retractable Technologies against Becton Dickinson and hospital group purchasing organizations (GPOs). The GPOs had exclusive contracts that blocked Thomas Shaw’s patented retractable safety syringe from reaching hospitals, despite it being proven to prevent needlestick injuries that cause thousands of healthcare worker infections annually. The case settled for $100 million in 2004.

Puncture (2011) is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major platforms. It was originally released theatrically on September 23, 2011, and on DVD/Blu-ray on January 3, 2012. The film stars Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, Vinessa Shaw, Jesse L. Martin, Brett Cullen, and Michael Biehn.

Paul Danziger is the founding partner of Danziger & De Llano, LLP (dandell.com), a nationally recognized mesothelioma and asbestos litigation firm providing nationwide representation. The same tenacity that drove the safety needle case now serves families affected by corporate negligence and toxic exposure. The firm has recovered over $2 billion for clients across the United States. Contact: 855-699-5441.