Filed at 10:42 p.m. ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Sixty open-heart surgery patients or their families sued a hospital Friday, claiming its negligence caused infections that in some cases were fatal.

The lawsuits involve surgeries performed since 1995 at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. The hospital failed to control infections, then didn't properly review the cases or take steps to remedy the problem, the lawsuits allege.

Lawyer Calvin Warriner said 90 patients developed drug-resistant staph infections, and sixteen died. Nineteen lawsuits were filed earlier this year.

Each lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $15,000. Medical malpractice laws in Florida allow a jury to award higher sums than a plaintiff seeks.

Clint Matthews, chief executive for the hospital, said he stood by the hospital's reputation for quality cardiac care. More than 6,500 open-heart surgeries have been performed there since 1995.

``More physicians have trusted their patients to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center than any other cardiac provider in South Florida,'' Matthews said in a statement.

In 2000, the hospital received a rating of 91 out of 100 from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which inspects the hospital. Infection control was one of five areas recommended for improvement.

Pat Glynn, spokesman for the state Agency for Health Care Administration, said its investigators haven't found any recent major issues related to infection control at the hospital.