Johnson & Johnson Recall of DePuy Hip Devices: Lewitt Hackman Files Suit

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys at Lewitt, Hackman, Shapiro, Marshall & Harlan, a southern California law firm, filed a lawsuit regarding a Johnson & Johnson recall of DePuy metal on metal hip replacement devices. The firm filed the suit against DePuy Orthopedics, Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson, Inc., on January 12, 2011 on behalf of a Los Angeles client. The lawsuit alleges DePuy and Johnson & Johnson designed, manufactured and sold a defective, prosthetic orthopedic implant.

The client, who had to undergo a second complicated hip surgery to replace the defective implant is represented by Attorneys Andrew L. Shapiro, Thomas Cecil, and David B. Bobrosky at Lewitt Hackman. The personal injury attorneys say that in addition to intense pain from the failure of the device which caused a decline in walking and other physical abilities, the client may still suffer from potential metal poisoning and other complications.

According to an August, 2010 article in The New York Times, surgeons implanted about 93,000 ASR XL Acetabular Systems used in traditional hip replacements, and ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems in partial hip replacements, internationally.

The Johnson & Johnson recall was announced nearly two years after the Food and Drug Administration started receiving complaints about the total hip replacement and hip resurfacing devices.  According to The New York Times article, DePuy estimates about 12 to 13 percent of the patients who have the metal on metal hip replacements need a second replacement operation within five years of receiving an ASR implant.

"DePuy's reaction before the recall to the mounting evidence of serious problems with its ASR XL Modular Acetabular Cup System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System appears less than forthright," stated attorney Shapiro, adding, "DePuy's questionable pre-recall conduct should certainly make anyone with a DePuy hip implant device think twice about further trusting DePuy to voluntarily pay for all costs of a second surgery and related damages."

Many orthopedic surgeons complain that the hip implant devices are designed improperly, and are extremely difficult to position. Additionally, the very components of the device – cobalt and chrome – also may cause health issues, as the metal on metal wears down within the body.

If you would like to speak with the Los Angeles attorneys handling this case, or if you or someone you know has suffered hip surgery complications related to this Johnson & Johnson recall, please contact Attorneys Andrew Shapiro, Thomas Cecil or David Bobrosky at Lewitt Hackman: 818-907-3223.

SOURCE Lewitt Hackman