The first round of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy hip implants has been settled, which means that other lawsuits against the devices will have to wait longer to go to court.
The first three cases, brought forth by Annelise Rundle (74), Martha Bender (69), and Katherine Guy (60), settled for $600,000 – that’s $200,000 per plaintiff. The suit was scheduled to go to trial in December 2012.
Johnson & Johnson officials negotiated the settlements “at the low end of what the company should have expected,” according to U of Michigan business professor Eric Gordon. “J&J should have expected to pay in the $200,000-to-$500,000 range per case.”
In 2010, J&J recalled 93,000 ASR Hips worldwide. The all-metal system was initially intended to last longer than previous types of artificial hips, made from ceramic or plastic. However, studies show that metal hips fail at a higher rate than other types, and they generally fail within the first two or three years after replacement surgery. The hips could also cause severe pain and immobilization as the joint dislocated, bone fractures, infection, and metallosis from metal shavings as parts rubbed together.
More than 6,000 cases against DePut ASR hips have been filed in a multidistrict litigation, MDL 2197. The MDL is presided over by Judge David A. Katz in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
If you or a loved one have had a hip replaced with one of Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy ASP metal hips, and are now experiencing harmful and life-threatening side effects, contact the experienced lawyers at Strom Law, LLC. We specialize in defective product litigation, and we offer free consultations to get you on the road to recovery. 803.252.4800.
