J&J to Pay $600,000 in First DePuy ASR Lawsuit Settlements

By Sarah Mirando | August 23, 2012

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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By Sarah Pierce

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay nearly $600,000 to resolve three lawsuits alleging the company’s DePuy ASR hip implants caused serious injuries in the Plaintiffs. These are the first DePuy ASR lawsuit settlements reached in the massive litigation J&J is facing since recalling the defective devices in 2010, and could be an indicator that the company is willing to settle the lawsuits instead of going to trial.

J&J faces more than 8,000 DePuy ASR lawsuits alleging the metal-on-metal hip implants are defective. U.S. District Judge David Katz is overseeing about 6,000 of the lawsuits, which have been consolidated in the Northern District of Ohio as part of an MDL (multidistrict litigation). J&J is also defending itself against more than 2,000 DePuy ASR lawsuits filed in various state courts. The first DePuy ASR lawsuit settlements involve cases filed in state court in Las Vegas, where three women will receive approximately $200,000 each for their claims.

Details of the DePuy ASR Hip Implant Settlements

The settlements will go to three women, Annelise Rundle, 74, Martha Bender, 69, and Katherine Guy, 60, who all had ASR hip replacements done by the same surgeon during the past six years. All three later had to undergo revision surgery to remove the artificial all-metal hips after experiencing pain and other side effects. These side effects included health problems caused by metal particles shedding off the device, as well as evidence of bone damage from the device.

“Each of these Plaintiffs has incurred a painful and debilitating hip-revision surgery as a result of the failure of their DePuy ASR Hip,” their lawyers said in a December filing.

Lawyers for J&J tried to dismiss the women’s DePuy ASR hip implant lawsuits based on the fact that they didn’t suffer life-threatening illnesses from the devices. However, the company decided to settle the cases before they went to trial.

An expert quoted by Bloomberg (8/21/12) said the DePuy ASR lawsuit settlements are on the low-end of what the company could have expected to pay, which was between $200,000 and $500,000.

Lawsuit Cite Severe DePuy ASR Side Effects

More than 93,000 DePuy ASR hip implants were recalled worldwide in 2010 after it was found that more than 12 percent of the devices failed within five years. Around 37,000 of these devices were sold in the U.S. Following the recall, thousands of lawsuits were filed against J&J and DePuy for putting a defective device on the market without properly testing its side effects.

Since then, evidence has been presented that shows metal-on-metal hip implants like the ASR are prone to premature failure and expose patients to complications caused by metal shavings rubbing off from the device and entering the blood stream. Side effects of all-metal hip implants include:

* metallosis (metal poisoning)

* increased levels of chromium and cobalt in the blood stream

* tissue damage and/or death around the joint

* bone damage

* cancer

* pseudotumors around the hip implant

* degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy

* dislocated hip

* revision surgery

These side effects have left victims of these defective metal-on-metal hip implants not only in pain, but left with huge medical bills to remedy the complications.

More Settlements Expected in DePuy ASR Lawsuits

DePuy ASR hip implant lawyers say the three settlements reached in Las Vegas court show that the company is prepared to quickly settle cases before they go to trial. This is good news for victims hoping to get compensation for their injuries.

If you were implanted with a DePuy ASR hip implant and suffered complications, you must act quickly to join the DePuy ASR lawsuit MDL. A qualified hip implant injury lawyer can provide a free consultation about your case to see if you’re eligible.

Visit the DePuy ASR Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to receive more information about your legal options. Hip implant injury attorneys will review your case for free and advise you on the best course of action for seeking compensation — through a DePuy ASR injury lawsuit, DePuy ASR class action lawsuit, or through joining the DePuy ASR lawsuit MDL.

Updated August 23rd, 2012

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