Johnson & Johnson Subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. Sued by 10 New Plaintiffs in Faulty Hip Joint Case, Announces Scranton Law Firm

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Apr 07, 2011, 09:00 ET

CONCORD, Calif., April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scranton Law Firm today announced that it has filed 10 new lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs whose hips had been replaced with now-recalled DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Systems. The lawsuits were filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court. The replacement hips, which have a metal-on-metal design, have proved problematic for many recipients, causing everything from pain to permanent damage to surrounding soft tissue due to metal poisoning. A recent report indicates that the failure rate of these replacement joints is likely to be as high as 49% within six years of the initial hip replacement surgery.

"There is ample evidence that DePuy was aware of the problems with these hips years ago, but nevertheless hesitated to initiate a recall. As a result, my clients may end up with permanently damaged hip joints, unable to return to their active lives," said attorney Chris Scranton, whose law firm will represent this new group of plaintiffs in Superior court. "This case shines a light on the worst type of corporate greed."

It's estimated that about 93,000 hip replacements were completed globally using the faulty joints, 37,000 of which were in the United States.

While some recipients of the metallic hip joints have had successful secondary (revision) hip replacement surgeries, others have faced permanent damage to the tissue around the faulty joints. For this secondary group, it is unlikely that their hips will ever return to full functionality.

"The situation for recipients of the damaged DePuy hips is quickly evolving into a public health emergency," continued Mr. Scranton. "Every patient who received one of these joints must see their orthopedist immediately, whether or not they are currently experiencing discomfort. Delay could mean the difference between being able to walk in the long run, or not."

Every recipient of the DePuy hip system in question is at risk for metal poisoning whether or not the joint is failing at this time. Anyone who has or has had this type of hip replacement who is seeking legal representation should call 1-855-BAD-HIPS (1-855-223-4477) or go to http://www.scrantonlawfirm.com/ for more information about their legal rights.

The Scranton Law Firm has partnered with veteran trial attorney Steve Brady from the Brady Law Group in San Rafael to litigate these cases. Plaintiffs in the lawsuits reside primarily in California, Nevada and Washington.

SOURCE The Scranton Law Firm