Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuits
Zimmer Biomet hip replacement lawsuits claim the Durom Cup failed early, causing severe complications. New lawsuits involve Zimmer’s M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis and VerSys Femoral Head. The deadline is approaching to join Zimmer litigation.
Status of Zimmer Hip Implant Lawsuits
As of December 2024, there were 3 pending lawsuits in multidistrict litigation against Zimmer Biomet. MDL 2859 is before Senior District Judge Paul A. Crotty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- December 2024: Zimmer hip lawyers were still accepting cases for multidistrict litigation against hip implant manufacturer Zimmer, though the deadline was fast approaching to join the upcoming settlement talks or trial plans. Only 6 cases remain unresolved out of more than 300 original cases filed.
- November 2023: A New Mexico court awarded a $2 million dollar verdict to Michael Brian McDonald who claimed a Zimmer Kinective hip implant caused multiple injuries.
- March 2023: Zimmer reported it would fund the settlement agreement by April 28, 2023, for an undisclosed amount, but the cases of a handful of plaintiffs that declined to be part of the settlement remain open in the MDL.
- May 2022: The judge stayed all proceedings for settlement talks.
- April 2022: The judge referred MDL cases to Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo for settlement. Parties executed a Master Settlement Agreement.
- December 2021: Judge Crotty stayed all remaining bellwether cases, Pride (No. 18-cv-10649), Goode (No. 19-cv-3504) and Little (No. 18-cv-10393), pending the resolution of the appeal in Nutting.
- August 2021: Judge Crotty excluded the testimony of an expert from plaintiff Tamma Nutting’s case and granted summary judgment in the case, effectively dismissing it.
- October 2018: Judges consolidated cases involving Zimmer’s M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis and VerSys Femoral Head in multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of New York.
- March 2016: Zimmer offered $314 million to settle roughly 700 cases involving its Durom Acetabular Component, also called the Durom cup. Many plaintiffs were not happy with the settlement offer and chose not to take part in it. The Durom Cup MDL subsequently closed.
Though the MDL for Zimmer’s Durom Cup is no longer active, the MDL from October 2018 relates to different Zimmer products, its M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis and VerSys Femoral Head, which surgeons implant with the M/L Taper. Zimmer manufactured the M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis out of a titanium alloy and the VerSys Femoral Head out of a cobalt-chromium alloy.
In April 2022, Zimmer and some plaintiffs entered into a confidential settlement agreement, which Zimmer was due to fund on April 28, 2023. Those plaintiffs who did not settle will need to produce additional documentation before going to pretrial proceedings.
Why Are People Filing Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuits?
In the remaining open lawsuits against Zimmer Biomet, most plaintiffs claim they have experienced metal-related injuries and complications, including trunnionosis, from the M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis and VerSys Femoral Head.
- Hip replacement loosening and separation, requiring revision surgery
- Inflammation and other adverse reactions in the tissue around the implant
- Loss of bone due to inflammation relating to debris build-up
- Metallosis, a type of metal poisoning from metal-on-metal implants
- Pain
- Trunnionosis from friction between metal implant parts
Trunnionosis occurs when there is friction or wear between the ball and the trunnion, or socket part of the implant, which can lead to the release of tiny metal particles into the surrounding tissues. The release of these particles can cause metallosis, a type of metal poisoning that happens when metal enters the tissue around the hip and the bloodstream. Inflammation from trunnionosis can cause deterioration of the surrounding tissues and can interfere with the function of the implant, as well as other complications.
Who Qualifies to File a Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuit?
If you had a hip replacement and are experiencing pain, loosening or other complications, you may qualify for financial compensation. The types and amount of compensation you receive in a Zimmer hip replacement lawsuit will depend on your specific situation.
You may be eligible to receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, subsequent hip replacement procedures and lost wages. The best way to know if you qualify and for how much is to speak to a qualified attorney and get a free case review.
Choosing a Zimmer Hip Lawyer
If you are choosing a Zimmer hip lawyer to handle your case, make sure they have the experience and resources necessary to take on a large device maker such as Zimmer Biomet. Don’t be afraid to talk to more than one lawyer before hiring the lawyer you feel is right for you.
For example, Drugwatch partners with Zimmer hip lawyers from law firms that have decades of experience filing lawsuits on behalf of people who faced injuries from defective medical devices. These large, award-winning national law firms have been on plaintiff’s steering committees and held leadership positions in Zimmer MDL litigation and other medical device MDLs.
They’ve been instrumental in getting billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients who experienced harm from defective drugs and medical devices.
Zimmer Hip Settlements and Verdicts
Over the years, Zimmer has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements over its hip implants. In April 2022, a portion of the 302 lawsuits relating to Zimmer’s M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis settled under a confidential settlement agreement. Plaintiffs who don’t want to be a part of the settlement must produce additional documentation before the Zimmer hip replacement pretrial proceedings.
In 2010, Zimmer set up a $47.5 million settlement fund and began settling individual lawsuits relating to its faulty hip implants. In 2016, it settled hundreds of multidistrict litigation lawsuits relating to its Durom Cup hip implants. It offered to settle most of the lawsuits for $314 million, with a base award of $175,000 per hip, but most plaintiffs chose not to participate in the offer. Later, the court required plaintiffs to participate in the settlement or run the risk of having their claims dismissed.
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