DePuy ASR Cases Centralized in New Jersey Take Shape

A significant number of cases in DePuy ASR hip implant litigation have been filed in Indiana, New Jersey, and California. California is the home of major ASR engineers, and Indiana is the headquarters of DePuy Orthopedics itself. New Jersey is the location of the headquarters of Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceuticals giant of which DePuy is a major subsidiary.
In April, the New Jersey state judiciary issued an order centralizing New Jersey DePuy lawsuits in the Superior Court of Bergen County, which would help coordinate them with federal cases – which have been consolidated and centralized in Ohio – as well as contribute to the simplification of the legal process, which could lead to expedited trials and results for some plaintiffs. Although a decision to this effect has not yet been made, it is possible thatIndiana lawsuits may also be consolidated with the New Jersey lawsuits.

Based on regulations regarding centralized lawsuits in New Jersey, representatives for the plaintiffs and defendants will meet on a monthly basis to discuss issues and details surrounding the trial, including the scheduling of initial bellwether trials and coordination with the litigation taking place in federal courts.
Information has not yet been made available to the public at this time regarding the number of plaintiffs involved in New Jersey lawsuits, although the number could be significant – the DePuy ASR recall that took place last August affected more than 90,000 recipients worldwide. The number of Americans who received the implant prior to the recall was around 37,000. Many of these people are likely to suffer from complications related to the device, which have become increasingly worrisome – from failure to implant dislocation, many patients have been forced to endure a barrage of painful side effects. DePuy metal poisoning is also common in DePuy patients, when shreds of metallic dust find their way into the patient’s tissues and bloodstream.

Centralization and consolidation of state and federal cases will likely contribute to a quicker outcome for plaintiffs, something that could be necessary to help alleviate expenses such as medical bills.Those suffering from the adverse effects of DePuy complications are highly advised to contact an experienced DePuy hip lawyer.