Category: defective products

DePuy Recall Attorney Response to Latest Comment From Reader

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall attorneys, we recently posted a blog that defended orthopaedic surgeons who had utilized the DePuy hip implant on their patients. Although this post did not totally exonerate orthopaedic surgeons from the DePuy hip recall mess, it did urge patients to give their surgeons the benefit of the doubt. This post drew a very pointed comment by Mr. Juergen Schaberick, who stated-

“As a victim of the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal [hip implant] I like to ask if you would still trust your surgeon when his name pops up on the official DePuy website when searching for a surgeon in your area.”

Not ALL Surgeons Accepted Kick Backs

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers defend orthopaedic surgeonsWe thank Mr. Schaberick for his comment on DePuy and Johnson & Johnson, and we do not completely disagree. However, our own research has shown that not all doctors who show up on the DePuy website have accepted honorarium or other monetary benefits to select the DePuy hip implant for their patients. However, as was pointed out by Mr. Schaberick, many of the orthopaedic surgeons did in fact receive significant monies and benefits from DePuy and Johnson & Johnson in return for selecting the ASR XL Acetabular complete or resurfacing implant systems. Mr. Schaberick is also correct that DePuy and Johnson & Johnson paid millions of dollars over the last several years because of violations of federal anti-kick-back laws.

Most DePuy hip recall lawyers agree that these facts should give patients a good reason to be careful when choosing an orthopaedic surgeon. These facts should also give patients a strong incentive to seek a second, independent medical examination. Although there are a few orthopaedic surgeons who certainly should never be trusted when it comes to DePuy hip implants, we still believe that the majority of orthopaedic surgeons who prescribed the DePuy hip implant for their patients did so because they were fooled by Johnson & Johnson and DePuy’s slick marketing campaign.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Regardless of your orthopaedist’s reasons for using any of the DePuy hip implants, if you are a DePuy hip recall patient, you are in a very tough situation and have some tough choices. That’s why all DePuy hip recall lawyers are encouraging patients to contact an attorney to learn of all available options when it comes to seeking compensation. Thank you again Mr. Schaberick for your comments. We look forward to future comments from you.

If you or a loved one have suffered the effects of a defective DePuy hip replacement, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Don’t be fooled by DePuy claims adjusters. Let the lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you full and fair compensation.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Defend Orthopaedic Surgeons

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we are frequently asked whether or not DePuy hip recall patients can trust their orthopaedic surgeons to give them honest, fair, and impartial advice regarding the recall. After all, this orthopaedic surgeon was the one who initially recommended the patient receive the DePuy product in the first place. However, while a small percentage of orthopaedic surgeons may have initially been offered financial incentives by DePuy and Johnson & Johnson to utilize the implant that has since been recalled, many surgeons likely chose the implant based on DePuy’s marketing of the benefits of its product. Also, while some orthopaedic surgeons may have accepted honorarium or speaking engagements money from the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary in the past, now that the implant has been recalled, it is unlikely that any orthopaedic surgeon would jeopardize his or her career by accepting further monetary compensation to promote a recalled product.

Seek a Second Opinion

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers defend orthopaedic surgeonsAs New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we are telling our clients that they should give their own orthopaedic surgeon the benefit of the doubt and listen to what the surgeon has to say about their options. Of course, we are also recommending that all patients get a second, independent medical opinion from another orthopaedic surgeon regarding the nature and extent of their current condition, whether or not they have osteolysis, and whether the patient should obtain blood tests to determine the presence of metallic debris. This second opinion should also cover what type of implant will be utilized during the second surgery.

While all DePuy replacement recipients should follow their orthopaedic surgeon’s medical advice, most DePuy hip recall lawyers are recommending that any doctor that insists on using a DePuy implant be looked upon with skepticism. The bottom line: final choice of which hip implant (and which orthopaedic surgeon) always belongs to the patient.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. The defective product attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are prepared to earn you the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve. Don’t be fooled by DePuy insurance claims adjusters who claim to be on your side. Seek out an attorney to fight for your rights.

Should DePuy Defective Hip Recall Make all Hip Implant patients Think Twice?

As DePuy hip recall lawyers, we have been posting daily about the hip recall litigation and other matters that may be of interest to any DePuy hip recall patient. Since this past August, many patients who are considering hip implant surgery have been wondering whether it is time to stop and think about the future of hip implant surgery. After all, any replacement procedure, whether replacing a hip, shoulder, or knee with an implant, involves replacing the body’s natural bone and tissue with man made metals and ceramics. Here, DePuy used chromium and cobalt in its ASR hip replacement system. For the 93,000 implant recipients, the recall was very bad news and is making all potential joint replacement patients reconsider their medical options.

Good Future for Joint Replacement Surgeries

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers patients think thiceFortunately, the medical future involving artificial joint replacement looks bright. Notwithstanding the failure of the DePuy hip implant, scientists, metallurgists, and researchers are constantly searching for better options for joint replacement patients. Unfortunately, companies like DePuy Orthopaedics and Johnson & Johnson have a financial incentive to be the first manufacturer to get their products on the market. As such, it must be questioned whether this profit motive causes manufacturers to put medical devices on the market before conducting long term studies about the product. In the case of DePuy, it appears that there were no long term studies regarding the wear and tear of the implant before the product was released into the market. Perhaps DePuy and Johnson & Johnson hoped that the chromium and cobalt metal parts in the hip implant would not pose a problem to potential patients.

Sadly, after 93,000 patients received the replacement, it turns out that DePuy’s hopes didn’t pan out. Now, these patients will be forced to undergo another surgery to remove the defective implant and replace it with yet another hip implant. Fortunately, as technologies improve and manufacturers see the downside of prematurely placing products on the market, there will be less and less complications involving joint replacement surgery in the future.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one recently underwent hip replacement surgery and you’ve discovered that your implant was manufactured by DePuy, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We are prepared to provide with appropriate assistance and lead you in the right direction regarding your claim against DePuy. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Recall News Update

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we have been posting information regarding the DePuy hip recall and how it is affecting patients. If you are one of the 93,000 patients worldwide who were fitted with a DePuy ASR hip implant, hopefully you have been following these posts regarding the lawsuits.

DePuy Recall Multi-District Litigation

As we have posted, over 100 DePuy hip recall lawsuits filed around the country have now been consolidated in the United States Court for the Eastern District of Ohio and Toledo under MDL2197. U.S. District Judge, David A. Katz, has been assigned to handle all of these Federal Court DePuy hip recall claims.

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers claim updateAs a result, Judge Katz is responsible for coordinating all pretrial discovery and litigation concerning the nature of DePuy’s defective hip implant to promote judicial economy, prevent duplication of the same discovery in hundreds of cases, prevent the potential for hundreds of judges each individually ruling on the same issue, and to prevent inconsistent judicial rulings from these judges. The DePuy hip recall multi-district litigation (MDL) is a great way to streamline the DePuy hip recall litigation, conserve judicial resources, and save the parties money.

Although these DePuy hip recall lawsuits are consolidated under Judge Katz, each DePuy hip recall patient has his or her own individual case within the consolidated group case. If Judge Katz is unsuccessful in resolving any DePuy hip recall lawsuit before trial, that party’s case will eventually be sent back to where it was filed, and trial will proceed in that jurisdiction.

Thus far, the DePuy hip recall litigation consolidation has been effective. When Judge Katz was first assigned the DePuy case, there were only seven cases pending throughout the country. However, since the consolidation order, there have been over ninety-six DePuy hip recall lawsuits filed in over 34 different federal courtrooms. All of these DePuy hip recall cases are now consolidated under Judge Katz to be handled as is detailed above.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As New Jersey DePuy hip recall lawyers, we support the consolidation of any case filed in Federal Court. However, many New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers prefer that these case be filed in State court and not be consolidated with the MDL being managed by Judge Katz. If you are a DePuy hip recall patient, you should contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, and to determine which jurisdiction is better suited to your case. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Please check back as we will continue to post about the DePuy hip recall litigation and any other developments under Judge Katz.

Patients with Bilateral DePuy Hip Implants: Contact an Attorney

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we have been posting DePuy hip recall information since the news was made public. We hope this legal information has been helpful to anyone affected by the recall.

Multiple Hip Implants, Multiple Surgeries, More Compensation?

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers Replacement ALL DePuy Hip ImplantsMost DePuy hip recall patients have had a single DePuy hip replacement. However, many times, an orthopaedic patient will require both hips to be replaced in a surgery called a bilateral hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, for those patients who have had a bilateral hip-replacement surgery with the recalled DePuy hip implant, the recall is twice as troubling because these patients will require more extensive surgery to remove the two DePuy hips.

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we have shared in previous posts the expert research recommending that any DePuy hip recall patient have their DePuy hip implant removed. Therefore, if you are one of the unfortunate DePuy hip recall patients that have had a bilateral hip replacement with a DePuy hip implant, the medical experts are also recommending that both DePuy hip implants be removed, even if only one DePuy implant is presently causing symptoms.

All recall patients deserve full and fair compensation for DePuy’s recalled hip implant. However, those DePuy hip recall patients who have had a bilateral hip replacement deserve significantly more compensation from DePuy because they will need to undergo twice the amount of pain, suffering, and disability, and will likely not return to their normal health which they enjoyed before their DePuy hip implant surgery.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

If you are the recipient of one or two DePuy hip implants, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. The Depuy hip recall lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are eager to help recall victims earn the compensation they are absolutely entitled to.

Will A New DePuy Hip Implant Replace My Defective DePuy Implant?

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers second opinion hip implantAs a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyer, I have been posting on various DePuy hip recall topics and trying to answer questions that patients and victims may have about the recall. One question that many DePuy hip recall patients have is, “What type of hip implant should be used to replace the defective DePuy hip implant?”

Naturally, many victims do not want another DePuy hip implant. You know the old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” As a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyer, I am strongly encouraging DePuy hip recall patients to ask their surgeons for implant options other than the DePuy hip implants. Only your doctor can tell you which hip implant is best for you, but if a doctor tries to push for a DePuy replacement, I urge you to get a second, independent medical opinion.

Why Seek A Second Opinion?

There are some reports that surgeons have a financial affiliation with DePuy and therefore would likely favor a DePuy hip implant over other hip implant manufacturers. DePuy hip replacement patients should be concerned about any potential conflict of interest between a surgeon and DePuy.

Patients: Speak up!

Be your own advocate. All DePuy hip recall patients should specifically ask his or her surgeon whether or not they have any financial relationship or connection to DePuy Orthopaedics or Johnson & Johnson. And remember; no matter what the surgeon recommends, you always have the final say as to what type of hip implant will be used to replace your defective DePuy hip implant.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have received a defective DePuy hip implant from a recent hip replacement surgery, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The DePuy hip recall lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are capable of earning you full and fair compensation, as opposed to what DePuy will offer should you not contact an attorney. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the Mininno Law Office team fight for your rights to compensation.

DePuy Hip Recall Design Flaw Still A Mystery

This DePuy Hip Recall article is one in a series of posts designed to provide DePuy hip implant patients with information regarding the hip implant recall.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Answer Questions

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys defective design flawsOne of the questions patients have asked is, “What is the defect that is causing these implants to fail?” Not surprisingly, DePuy Orthopaedics is not telling its DePuy hip implant patients anything of substance regarding why these DePuy hip implants are failing and why they have issued this hip recall. But, DePuy won’t be able to keep its secrets for long. Ultimately, because of the lawsuits, DePuy representatives will have to testify, under oath, about the hip recall. Then, DePuy hip implant patients will finally learn the truth.

Also, DePuy hip recall lawyers will hire experts on behalf of the hip recall patients who will get a chance to look at DePuy’s engineering data and specification to determine what is causing the defect that has so dramatically affected so many hip recall patients. Until then, both DePuy hip recall lawyers and hip patients can only speculate about the true nature of the hip implant defect.

What is known is that the pain and symptoms associated with the DePuy hip implant system involve the loosening of the cup, unusual wear and tear in the hip joint, and the shedding of metal debris into the surrounding tissues causing osteolysis. Ultimately, as the litigation progresses, New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy Hip Recall lawyers will get more information about why this defect occurred and how it will affect the entire 93,000 DePuy hip implant patients.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have received a defective DePuy hip implant and are not sure about your next step, you should seek out the assistance of a DePuy hip recall lawyer. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Lists 4 Things Patients Should Know

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys things you should knowIf you are a victim of the DePuy hip recall, there are few things you should know:

1. Not all DePuy hip implants are being recalled.

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyer, I get many telephone calls and emails from patients who have had hip replacements. As we posted on December 2, 2010, only certain DePuy hip implants are subject to the recall. Please click on the next link to read whether or not your hip implant is part of the DePuy hip recall.

2. Your implant will need to be replaced whether or not you are having symptoms.

We are often asked, “Do I need to have my DePuy hip implant replaced if I’m not experiencing symptoms?” Yes. Because of the unusually high wear and tear, and because of the metallic shed rate in DePuy implants, medical research has predicted that nearly all of the DePuy hip implants will fail within ten years of use whether or not you are experiencing symptoms. See our November 18th post for more information about the ASR replacements.

3. Do not feel obligated to speak with DePuy Orthopaedics or Johnson & Johnson representatives or claims adjusters.

We are strongly encouraging any patient to contact a lawyer to represent them. As we posted previously, DePuy is not offering fair compensation and is passing on the cost of its defect on to patients and their insurance carriers. These claims adjusters on behalf of DePuy are not looking out for your best interests and you may lose your rights by dealing with them: click to read about Johnson & Johnson tactics.

4. Patients should insist on blood tests to determine if their hip implant is releasing metals into their blood system.

We are often told that “DePuy hip replacement patients’ x-rays look fine,” and therefore will likely not need surgery. Medical research shows that x-rays are the least effective way to determine if your hip implant is failing. You should insist on blood tests that specifically identify the release of cobalt and chromium into your body. You should consult with an infectious disease doctor to see whether or not you are experiencing any signs or symptoms related to a depuy hip implant failure.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are the recipient of a DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Warn Against Johnson & Johnson’s Tactics

If you are one of the 93,000 patients affected by the defective DePuy hip recall, you should expect to receive an unwanted telephone call from a DePuy hip recall insurance adjuster paid for by DePuy Orthopaedics and their parent company, Johnson & Johnson.

DePuy Insurance Adjusters Trained to Cheat You

This insurance adjuster is a trained professional working on behalf of DePuy Orthopaedics and Johnson & Johnson to reduce your potential exposure to damages. While they may seem to be concerned for your well being and deeply apologetic for issues arising from the hip recall, these skilled claims adjusters are following a careful script. new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers warn against johnson tactics

First, these DePuy hip recall adjusters will try to gain trust and become something of a confidant. They will promise to help by paying for medical bills and offering other compensation. But some patients have reported being probed by DePuy insurance adjusters regarding post-operative symptoms, even though these adjusters have no medical training to determine whether symptoms are related to a defective DePuy hip implant or some other condition.

DePuy hip recall insurance adjusters are not your friend, do not represent you, and are not looking out for your best interest. Instead, they are documenting everything that you are and are not saying. They will likely utilize the information during later litigation to deny or minimize your right to recoveries.
What’s worse; although all DePuy hip implant patients have legitimate medical questions that they would like to ask, the DePuy claims adjusters are trained not to provide any meaningful answers, but to simply gather information and discourage recall victims from seeking proper legal representation.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we believe that patients are entitled to far more than what is being offered by Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics. All DePuy hip implant patients are entitled to full and fair compensation, which includes full payment of medical bills, wage losses, pain and suffering compensation, and any and all damages which are lawfully permitted under our civil justice system.
If you are a victim of the DePuy hip implant recall, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Don’t let a DePuy insurance claims adjuster rob you of your right to full and fair compensation. Let a DePuy hip recall lawyer earn you the recoveries you are entitled to.

DePuy Hip Recall Affects Canada and Elsewhere

As a NJ and PA DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we have posted information about the DePuy hip recall for patients here in the U.S. However, the U.S. is not the only country with pending DePuy hip recall lawsuits.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Busy Everywhere

new jersey philadelphia DePuy hip recall attorneys represent victims everywhereDePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, marketed its DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Imlplant System and ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems worldwide, and all are included in the recall. In December of 2010, about 1,500 Canadian patients who had DePuy hip replacements filed a DePuy class action lawsuit in the courts in Quebec, Calgary, Alberta, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Montreal. DePuy hip recall lawyers in Canada are helping these DePuy hip recall claimaints. It is likely that other DePuy hip implant patients in Europe will soon be filing similar class actions as a result of the DePuy hip recall.

It seems that DePuy hip implant patients all over the world are seeking justice against DePuy Orthopaedics and its mega billion dollar parent company, Johnson & Johnson, for this defective hip implant product.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As a NJ and PA DePuy hip recall lawyer, I encourage all patients worldwide to fight for their legal rights against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson. We will continue to provide DePuy hip recall information and news as it is made available to us. In particular, we are watching very closely the DePuy multi-district litigation which is pending the Northern District of Ohio in front of Judge David A. Katz. Several of these DePuy lawsuits are class actions, and the rest are individual DePuy lawsuit claims that are all being managed by Judge Katz. Keep checking back to our blog for any updates on the DePuy hip implant lawsuit.

If you or a loved one are the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
You will need the help of a good DePuy hip recall lawyer to attain the full and fair compensation you deserve. Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you deserve.