Charles “Chick” Lennon of Rhode Island, 68, won over $400,000 in a law suit over a defective penile implant which caused his penis to remain erect for 10 years.

In 1996, he had a Dura II made of steel and plastic implanted two years before Viagra™ was available. The implant allowed men to raise the position of the penis for intercourse and then afterwards lower it.

However, Lennon was unable to lower his. His lawyer said Lennon could no longer hug anyone or ride a bike or go swimming or be around his grandchildren due to the physical discomfort and social awkwardness.

He was awarded $750,000 by a jury in 2004; however, the judge deemed that disproportionate and reduced the award to $400,000. The Rhode Island Supreme Court declared the award in a ruling decided by a procedural issue.

Dacomed Corps lawyer and their insurance company made no comment. They contend that the implant functioned perfectly. The implant is composed of plastic plates connected with surgical wire with springs pushed against the plates which create enough surface tension to create an erection explained Jules D’Alessandro, Lennon’s lawyer.

The implant can’t be removed because of unrelated health problems, like open heart surgery. Viagra™ won’t work for Lennon because tissue was removed during the implant.

Dacomed was purchased by a California company whose sales plummeted with the introduction of Viagra™. They filed for bankruptcy a year later.