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Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective medical devices, discusses several updates to the Johnson & Johnson Pinnacle hip implant multidistrict litigation (MDL) that is pending in Texas. The lawsuit is In Re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., Pinnacle Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, 3:11-md-02244, pending in the Dallas Division. The MDL has been organized on behalf of over 8,000 plaintiffs who all similarly allege the defective design of the DePuy Pinnacle led to an array of injuries, including: Elevated blood cobalt and chromium levels, groin and hip pain, inflammatory fluid surrounding the Pinnacle implant, psuedotumors, and early device failure leading to revision surgery to remove and replace the device.
According to lawsuit documentation, in August 2015, the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee served 16 expert reports. In October 2015, defense counsel served reports for their 27 experts. Plaintiffs’ expert depositions began in early October 2015 and are expect to conclude the second week of November; defendants’ expert depositions are scheduled to begin the second week of November and to conclude by mid-December 2015. The next bellwether trial is set with six plaintiffs in a multi-plaintiff trial that is expected to span approximately 12 weeks; the discovery cut-off for the bellwether trial is December 18, 2015. Jury selections are scheduled to begin on January 6, 2016 and some 40 fact and expert depositions are anticipated to occur prior to the start of the trial.
According to the MDL, the plaintiffs were all young and active individuals who were led to believe that Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip device implants would provide them with better results, including being more active and lasting longer when compared to other prosthetic hip replacement device designs. The lawsuit notes that the DePuy Pinnacle is constructed with a metal liner and a metal femoral head and was touted to be a better device when compared to other devices constructed with plastic or polyethylene liners and a ceramic or metal femoral head. The all-metal design was presented by the device manufacturer—and further promoted by implanting surgeons—as longer lasting and with the promise of increased activity, a large draw for younger hip replacement patients. The more than 8,000 cases that comprise the MDL are now pending before Judge Kinkeade who will likely be ruling on various legal and evidentiary issues going forward.
“Parker Waichman represents many plaintiffs in the Pinnacle multidistrict litigation (MDL) and we continue to fight for justice for those who allege injuries over the device,” said Daniel C. Burke, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman. “We believe that the Pinnacle metal-on-metal implants were advertised with a number of bogus promises, including increased longevity and range of motion. Many people have had to undergo painful revision surgeries due to early device failure.”
Parker Waichman also continues to offer free legal consultations to victims of DePuy Pinnacle and other metal-on-metal hip implant injuries. If you or a loved one have experienced premature failure of your implant, or other health problems associated with the Pinnacle or other metal-on-metal hip replacement device, please contact the Firm at its DePuy Pinnacle hip implant lawsuits page at yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).
Release ID: 96197