Pinnacle Hip Lawsuit Settlements Likely for Many

DePuy Orthopedics has been at the centre of many controversies surrounding two of their most popular hip replacement systems – the DePuy ASR and the DePuy Pinnacle artificial hips have both been cited as the cause of a multitude of side effects and DePuy hip complications patients have been experiencing. The devices are similar to one another, with the DePuy ASR system only available as a metal-on-metal implant, while the Pinnacle comes with a variety of options, including metal-on-metal, metal-on-ceramic, ceramic-on-ceramic, and other combinations of materials.

The metal-on-metal components of these devices can cause one of the most common DePuy hip implant complaints, metal poisoning. Also called metallosis, this occurs when the metal-on-metal ball-joint system rubs against itself, causing flakes of metal to be scraped off and make their way into the bloodstream. This can cause considerable pain and may lead to the need for hip revision surgery, a risky and potentially expensive procedure that some patients need to correct problems with their joint replacement devices.

There are currently many DePuy lawsuits at various stages of litigation. Some have been filed in state courts while some are taking the federal route. Some are individual cases, while others have been consolidated in class action, mass tort, and multidistrict litigation lawsuits. No matter how they are handled within the legal process, there are many DePuy cases that are likely to succeed and net damages for plaintiffs who have been affected by side effects like hip implant failure, pain, or swelling.

Settlements have also been reached out of court, an ideal situation for defendant and plaintiff alike. When an out-of-court settlement is reached, defendants get to keep sensitive information like trade secrets under wraps, and the settlement amount is not disclosed. Plaintiffs get a speedy resolution to their case, while the money they win can help pay medical bills and lost wages on a more immediate basis.

Cases in class action or multidistrict litigation lawsuits are more likely to be approached for out-of-court settlements, but class action lawsuits can take much longer to resolve than a single case filed in a state court simply because there is more information for litigants to process and handle. In addition, there is a certain impersonality involved in class action litigation, and a plaintiff’s individual concerns may not be taken care of when they are lumped in with many other somewhat similar cases. Victims suffering from DePuy hip failure are advised to consult with an experienced DePuy lawyer immediately.