Five plaintiffs who received the metal-on-metal Pinnacle hip implant are having their cases presented in one proceeding against manufacturer DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. This is the second bellwether trial in the multi-district litigation (MDL), a consolidation of thousands of Pinnacle hip implant recipients. The trial began on January 8, 2016.
The outcome of the trial will affect the status of claims by recipients of the metal-on-metal Pinnacle hip implant. The jury hearing these five cases and DePuy’s defenses will be a critical voice in determining DePuy’s ultimate response to these claims. After testimony is given in the Texas court, the jury will be charged with reaching a verdict.
In 2013, DePuy began settling claims of individuals injured by its ASR metal-on-metal hip implants after a 2011 recall of the device. While the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant has never been recalled, it was taken off the market in 2013.
Possible Evidence of Error
The UK’s The Telegraph published articles pointing to evidence that DePuy was aware of problems with the devices dating back to 2008. The newspaper reports that DePuy “has admitted ‘an error in the measuring techniques’” used to make the Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip replacement devices—an error that could lead to higher wear of the metal alloy used to manufacture the device. DePuy is also said to have reduced time spent on “spot checks”—quality control measures used to inspect the devices in 2006.
Metal-on-metal hip implants have had higher revision rates than other hip replacement devices due to high failure rates. Recipients of metal-on-metal hips are advised to regularly have their blood tested for metal ions that can be deposited into the bloodstream, and a revision surgery is recommended if metal levels are beyond a certain threshold.
The attorneys at Egerton Law have represented dozens of people hurt by this dangerous device. Call Egerton Law at 336-273-0508 to discuss your metal-on-metal hip implant claim, or fill out our web contact form to have an attorney contact you.
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