Depuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits

DePuy hip replacement lawsuits claim that the manufacturer’s ASR and Pinnacle devices caused serious complications. In 2023, a federal judge sanctioned DePuy’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, for wasting a plaintiff’s time and intentionally delaying a trial concerning the Pinnacle device.

This is an active lawsuit

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Last Modified: October 1, 2024
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Latest Updates on Depuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits

In 2024, there are no remaining active lawsuits in DePuy Pinnacle hip implant multidistrict litigation. While no cases are pending in MDL 2244, it’s still technically open. At its peak, there were 10,581 in this litigation.

DePuy has offered to settle 95% of hip lawsuits. However, as of October 2024, there were 237 lawsuits still pending in MDL 2197 in Ohio before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick over the ASR hip replacement implant.

Status of DePuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits
  • October 2024: While MDL 2244 no longer had active cases, lawsuits were still being filed in MDL 2197 over DePuy’s ASR implant.
  • April 2023: A federal court sanctioned Johnson & Johnson for its attempt to delay an ongoing Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuit.
  • October 2022: Johnson & Johnson requested to transfer a plaintiff’s case to federal court. The court denied this request, and the case remained in Washington state court.
  • June 2022: A judge declared that the MDL had effectively concluded and that any remaining cases would no longer benefit from consolidated pretrial proceedings.
  • May 2019: DePuy agreed to a settlement of around $1 billion across 6,000 Pinnacle hip implant cases.
  • January 2019: DePuy agreed to pay a $120 million settlement to the attorneys general of 46 U.S. states.
  • November 2017: A Dallas jury ordered DePuy to pay $247 million to six patients who had received Pinnacle implants.
  • December 2016: A court ordered DePuy to pay $1 billion to six people in the largest settlement concerning metal-on-metal hip implants.

In April 2023, a federal judge sanctioned Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of DePuy Orthopaedics, for delaying an ongoing Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuit. The judge ordered the company to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees.

In October 2022, Johnson & Johnson requested that the judge move a plaintiff’s case to federal court. The judge ruled that the case against Johnson & Johnson and the seller of the Pinnacle implant should remain with the Washington state court. The judge declared that the company’s request was an attempt to delay proceedings.

Why Are People Filing Lawsuits Against DePuy?

Plaintiffs in lawsuits involving DePuy hip replacements have claimed that the devices failed or caused dangerous complications, including tissue death and the release of metal ions into the bloodstream. Many patients have had the implants removed and undergone revision surgery. Settlements and verdicts involving the hip implants total roughly $6.2 billion.

Though the metal-on-metal technology used in DePuy’s Articular Surface Replacement and Pinnacle hip implants offered high hopes of long-lasting treatment when it first hit the market, it was plagued with problems and many implants failed within just a few years.

Attorney Holly Ennis details the reasons people are filing DePuy hip lawsuits.

Attorney Holly Ennis explains that when the hip is in use with an ASR or Pinnacle implant, a metal ball grinds against a metal socket, causing small particles to chip off the device. When these embed in the surrounding tissue, the tissue eventually dies, releasing the particles into the bloodstream.

People who have filed DePuy hip implant lawsuits claim the company did nothing despite knowing for years that at least some of its devices had problems. Internal company documents the plaintiffs presented at the first ASR hip trial appear to back up these claims.

The documents suggest that DePuy had predicted two in five patients receiving a DePuy ASR hip would need revision surgery within five years. The documents also seemed to reveal executives from DePuy’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, knew the ASR hip had a faulty design but kept it on the market.

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DePuy Hip Replacements Named in Lawsuits

DePuy’s ASR XL Acetabular System, ASR Hip Resurfacing System and Pinnacle Hip Solutions have been named in more than 20,000 lawsuits.

In 2010, DePuy recalled its ASR systems after leading medical organizations presented data showing high failure rates. Though DePuy did not recall its Pinnacle system, multiple studies have shown that metal-on-metal components had significant failure rates and complications. The company ceased the sale of those device components in 2013.

DePuy hip implants named in lawsuits include:
  • DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System lawsuits have seen settlements totaling over $4 billion.
  • Pinnacle lawsuits have seen settlements totaling over $1 billion.

Doctors used the ASR systems in more than 93,000 surgeries, leading to successful hip replacement lawsuits in which DePuy’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, agreed to pay $4 billion in damages. The company agreed to another $420 million in damages in March 2015.

In 2019, a court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay damages of $1 billion to plaintiffs in cases involving the Pinnacle system. Some individual and multidistrict cases against Johnson & Johnson are still ongoing.

Choosing a Depuy Hip Recall Lawyer

When choosing a DePuy hip replacement lawyer, you will want to find one who is an expert in tort law, which involves claims alleging negligence, intentional harm or strict liability.

The best tort lawyers communicate effectively, have years of specialized experience and a proven track record of success. Research multiple firms before making your choice, including firms that have already worked on DePuy hip replacement litigation.

National tort firm Weitz & Luxenberg has handled successful lawsuits for plaintiffs with defective hip replacements throughout the U.S. It has secured verdicts for those who received faulty hip implants, including from DePuy and Stryker, among other manufacturers. Weitz & Luxenberg partner Ellen Relkin served as both co-lead and lead counsel for DePuy multidistrict litigation and Stryker multicounty litigation.

Questions Your Lawyer May Ask About Your DePuy Hip Replacement
Which DePuy hip replacement did you receive?
Patients have filed hip replacement lawsuits against numerous companies. Knowing which hip implant system you received will help your lawyer research and develop your case. If you do not know which company made your hip replacement device, you can contact the surgeon who performed the operation.
When was your hip replacement surgery?
Knowing when you had your hip replacement surgery will help your lawyer determine the statute of limitations on your claim and how to proceed with your lawsuit. It is advisable to confirm the date of your surgery with the facility that performed it.
What complications did you experience?
Some people experience complications immediately after surgery, while others start to notice complications years later. Be prepared to share details with your lawyer of any complications you have experienced and when you first noticed them.
Did you undergo revision surgery?
Many patients have undergone revision surgery due to hip replacement devices that have failed or caused side effects. Revision surgery can be risky and comes with its own potential side effects. If you have undergone revision surgery, share this information with your lawyer.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.