Burg Simpson Leads National Litigation Against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.

DENVER, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C., one of the nation's leading plaintiff litigation law firms, is delighted to announce that shareholder, Seth. A. Katz, has been appointed by the Hon. David A. Katz to serve as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the multidistrict litigation against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. over the alleged failure of its ASR XL Acetabular Hip System.

In August 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), announced a voluntary recall of its ASR XL Acetabular Hip System, after reports revealed an unacceptable failure rate of the device, resulting in revision surgery for 13 percent of patients within five years. Burg Simpson has been involved in this pending litigation from the very start and, late last year, became the first firm to file lawsuits against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. in Colorado and Wyoming.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr. Katz said, "I am extremely honored to have been appointed to assume a leadership position in what may become one of the most high-profile litigations in recent years." Mr. Katz continued, "The evidence certainly suggests that thousands of individuals from across the country have had their health compromised due to DePuy's disregard for patient safety. Despite being aware of the problems and risks that the design of metal-on-metal joints carry and the mounting clinical evidence pointing to this problem, DePuy failed to provide adequate warnings of the health risks associated with their device to the public and the medical community. This has left our clients, and thousands of others across the country in the totally unacceptable position of having to undergo the agony and disruption of another hip replacement procedure within the next several years as well as possible systemic disease from unsafe levels of metal in their bloodstream. Our clients deserve justice and fair compensation for the pain, suffering and life-altering experience they must now live through."

Burg Simpson senior shareholder Peter W. Burg said, "At Burg Simpson, we have successfully litigated defective product, pharmaceutical and devices cases for more than 30 years in state and federal courts and in the multidistrict litigation arena. Seth's appointment to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee is testament not only to his skills, but the ability of our firm to handle such high-profile cases. Our number one priority is to ensure that everyone of our clients injured by this device receive the appropriate level of compensation that will allow them to rebuild their lives."

With its main office in Denver, Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C., has been at the forefront of mass tort and multidistrict litigation for more than ten years. The firm's award-winning attorneys have been appointed to lead numerous dangerous drug cases in recent years, including litigation involving the Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills, Gadolinium based contrast agents, Ortho Evra birth control patch, ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution, Vioxx, Heparin, Zyprexa, Bextra/Celebrex, Fen-Phen, and others. Burg Simpson also maintains offices in Cincinnati, Cody, and Phoenix.

www.burgsimpson.com

SOURCE Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C.