Tag: hip implant

Johnson & Johnson Earmarks Nearly 1 Billion Dollars – For What?

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall attorneys, we have been providing updated posts regarding the DePuy hip recall litigation, the nature of the hip defects which led to the litigation, and some helpful tips for any patients who may have a recall claim. These posts are designed to help any potential claimant understand the recall litigation and claims process.

DePuy and Johnson & Preparing for Something, But What?

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys johnson moneyRecent news demonstrates that not only are DePuy recall lawyers and patients planning for the litigation, but Johnson & Johnson and DePuy have also recognized the potential problem and have taken financial steps to prepare themselves. According to Johnson & Johnson’s fourth quarter earnings report released this past month, the company is taking a $922 million charge related to its potential exposure for the DePuy hip recall. While $922 million may sound like a large sum of money, it may be inadequate to cover the sum of 93,000 potential claimants that will require compensation from Johnson & Johnson.

DePuy hip recall patients should not worry about Johnson & Johnson’s overall financial health. According to the same fourth quarter earnings statement, Johnson & Johnson posted a net income of $1.9 billion in its orthopaedic unit and $5.71 billion in its pharmaceutical unit.

Neither Johnson & Johnson nor DePuy issued any official statement regarding the funds set aside, or their plans for the DePuy recall litigation. Therefore, it is unknown whether the $922 million has been set aside for payment of legitimate DePuy hip recall claims, or if it has been set aside so that Johnson & Johnson and DePuy can mount a high price defense in order to minimize exposure.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyers, we will be watching closely and posting any additional information about the DePuy hip recall. If you or a loved one are recipients 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.

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 Lawyers: ASR XL Hip Implant

As a Depuy hip recall lawfirm, we have previously posted information regarding the Depuy Orthopaedics recall of the DePuy ASR XL hip implant. As a Depuy hip recall lawyer, I have been asked many times, “What’s the big deal with this hip recall? Don’t all hip implants eventually fail?” The easy answer about hip implants is Yes.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Represent Recall Victims

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers asr xl implantAs we have posted previously, all hip recall lawyers will explain that a partial or total hip implant is not a cure for hip pain. However, what makes this Depuy hip recall so unusual is the extraordinarily high failure rate as compared to DePuy’s hip implant competitors. In fact, the medical research which lead to the hip recall has shown that between 12 and 13 percent of Depuy hip implant patients will require a hip replacement revision surgery within five years of receiving the replacement.

Since there were approximately 93,000 Depuy hip implants performed in the last five years, over 12,000 of these patients can expect to have a failure within five years. Unfortunately, there is no way for a Depuy hip implant patient to know whether or not they are one of the 12,000 who will have this five-year failure, or whether their hip implant will last longer.

DePuy Hip Implant Lawyers Scold DePuy for Negligence

There are many reasons for this high failure rate of the Depuy hip implant. As a DePuy him recall lawyer, we have posted information regarding the medical facts which have led to the Depuy hip implant defects which have led to the hip recall. In addition, the Depuy hip recall has also occurred because of the potential of the implant to shed metals (chromium and cobalt) into a hip implant patient’s bloodstream causing a condition called osteolysis.
Again, not all hip replacement patients who have had a Depuy hip implant will have this serious medical condition, but, without sensitive laboratory studies, there is no way to determine whether or not a Depuy hip patient does or does not have such a condition. In a nutshell, while 12 to 13 percent may seem like a low percentage, it is a nightmare for any Depuy hip implant patients who have received a Depuy hip replacement that is now the subject of the DePuy hip recall.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have received a defective hip implant manufactured by DePuy, you may fall into the group of people entitled to compensation from DePuy. If you are experiencing prolonged and excessive pain in your hip joint and you recently had hip replacement surgery, 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.

Our defective product attorneys can offer you the legal advice you’ll need to make the next step. Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers – How Much Do They Cost?

We are frequently asked by clients how much will it cost to hire a Depuy hip recall attorney to represent them in a lawsuit for the defective hip recall. After all, if defective hip replacement patients make the claim against DePuy themselves, they won’t have to pay attorney’s fees.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Work on a Contingency-Fee Basis

In these tough times, we know that many Depuy hip replacement patients do not have the resources to pay a lawyer to represent them in their fight to seek fair compensation for a defective hip manufactured by Depuy. new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers how much cost contingencyFortunately, the Mininno Law Office and its New Jersey and Philadelphia Depuy hip recall lawyers work on a “contingency-fee basis,” which allows you to get the best legal representation available without having to pay up front. Contingency means service now, pay later.

In addition, clients working on a contingency basis do not pay legal fees unless and until they win. Most lawyers receive between 33 and 40 percent of the gross recovery of a lawsuit. These lawyers will advance the costs of medical experts to prove your case. However, if a DePuy hip recall lawyer is unsuccessful in bringing your Depuy hip implant lawsuit, you do not have to pay any fee, or pay back any costs. In other words, as a New Jersey and Philadelphia hip recall lawyer, I work for free unless or until I am successful in your hip recall claim.

These contingency fee arrangements for our Depuy recall clients allow them to get the best hip recall legal representation without having to incur additional costs and expenses up front. As New Jersey or Philadelphia Depuy hip recall lawyers, we know it’s important that clients save their resources for medical bills, co pays and the out of pocket costs that Depuy is not agreeing to pay for up front (DePuy Distributes ‘Helpful’ Handout for Defective Implant Claims).

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have a Depuy hip implant claim, please contact a Depuy hip recall lawyer who is knowledgeable about your rights when it comes to seeking fair compensation from a defective Depuy hip replacement. The DePuy hip recall lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and skilled in earning full and fair compensation for victims of defective products. 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.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Hits Senior Citizens Hardest

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys defense senior citizensAs a DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we have begun noticing a disturbing trend regarding the population base mainly affected by the DePuy hip recall. Not surprisingly, research shows that most hip implant patients are senior citizens. Similarly, most patients who have been affected by the DePuy hip recall are senior citizens. There are certainly many younger patients affected by the DePuy hip recall, so why are the majority of the DePuy hip recall patients senior citizens?


DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Help Senior Citizens

As our bodies age, our hip joints tends to be more susceptible to physiological conditions such as osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the hip joint, and other chronic inflammatory conditions that can lead to the breakdown of the hip joint. Many younger people do not have these chronic health conditions or, if they do, have not had these conditions long enough to develop the need for hip replacement. DePuy actively marketed its hip implant to senior citizens claiming that it would improve physical functioning and increase a senior’s ability to care for themselves. While this may be true for hip implants or hip replacement surgery in general, it certainly is not true for the DePuy hip implant.

Sadly, many senior citizens who are affected by the recall will now face yet another invasive surgery to remove the defective DePuy hip implant. Even more frightening is the fact that the hip recall surgery required to remove a defective DePuy hip implant, carries with it numerous risks such as the risk of infection, blood clots, and even death. In addition, seniors’ primary health insurance is Medicare which is funded by the United States taxpayers. So, the taxpayers through Medicare are paying for the medical bills of DePuy’s hip recall. (Do a link to the blog about who’s going to pay for medical bills)

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Want Justice for Victims

While most senior citizen advocacy groups have always recommended a hip replacement to improve the quality of life for seniors, it is likely some of those same advocacy groups are now regretting that their members are subject to the DePuy hip recall. These defective DePuy hips will ultimately adversely affect senior citizens who have a DePuy hip implant;the very population base these hip implants were intended to help.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in NJ and PA

If you are the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our experience defective product and product liability attorneys are eager to help you earn the compensation you need and deserve. The potential complications involved with the implanting of a defective DePuy implant are quite serious and should not be taken lightly. Don’t wait to contact not only your orthopaedic doctor, but an attorney as well.
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 earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Why is DePuy’s Recall different from other Recalls?

What makes DePuy’s recall different than other recalls? Many people have questions regarding DePuy Orthopaedics’ August 2010 recall of the ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement System. If you are not one of the 93,000 patients affected by the DePuy hip implant recall , you may ask, “what’s the big deal?”

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Explain DePuy Recall

There are product recalls every day and rarely do these recalls spark lawsuits. But the DePuy recall is expected to result in thousands and thousands of lawsuits. What is the difference? The difference is that the recall is on a device that has already been fully implanted into 93,000 patients and medical research is showing that this implant can cause continual and future harm to those patients. Recalling a defective product such as a toaster, a child’s toy or even an automobile, is a much different circumstance. Unlike DePuy, those products can simply be recalled and the customer can get their money back.
However, with a defective hip, reimbursing the customer is simply not enough.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Want Full Compensation for their Clients

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers full fair compensationThe medical research is showing that these hip implants need to be removed much sooner than traditional hip implants. In addition, because these recalled hips are shedding chromium and cobalt metals into the bloodstream, research suggests that these patients will have significant inflammation and injuries to surrounding tissues and structures. Who knows what long-term damage this metal will have on these patients. Finally, these chromium and cobalt metals are circulating with the patient’s bloodstream. Again, who knows what damage these metals will have on a patient’s circulatory system, the heart or the brain.

That’s why this hip recall is a serious medical problem for DePuy and for the 93,000 patients who have a DePuy. These claims should not be taken lightly. That’s why, as a DePuy hip recall lawyer, we believe it is very important that any person who has had a DePuy hip implant that is the subject of the recall should immediately consult with an attorney to find out all of their rights. Prompt treatment and medical care is essential to avoid any other longer-term problems associated with the DePuy hip recall. And without the help of a DePuy hip recall lawyer, you will not receive the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one are the recipent of a defective DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our DePuy hip recall lawyers will work hard to fight for your right to full, fair, and necessary compensation.
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 earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Scoff at DePuy’s “Generous” Offer

As a DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we have been watching the DePuy website to see whether they are really interested in paying full and fair compensation to anyone who was harmed by one of the ASR hip implant systems that were recalled. DePuy has made many public statements proclaiming that they were concerned and looking out for the best interests of their hip implant patients. However, these public statements are inconsistent with DePuy’s hip implant claims policy.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Want You to be Compensated

depuy hip recall lawyers new jersey philadelphia scoff generous offerIn the Johnson & Johnson subsidary’s first press release, which was sent out on August 26, 2010, they boasted that they would cover “reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for services.” This was their first “offer” of compensation. This vague statement really meant nothing. DePuy refused to even acknowledge whether or not they would cover lost wages, medical expenses, or any other of the typical compensatory damages that defective product makers are required to pay to makeup for the harm they cause to their patients. In this case, if you are one of the 93,000 DePuy ASR hip implant patients and your hip implant has failed, or you are concerned about metal poisoning your system, you will likely need a second hip implant surgery.

As a DePuy hip recall lawyer, I make sure to let my clients know that hip implant surgery will dramatically affect how they are able to live their lives while recuperating from surgery. In addition, there is not any medical way to determine what long-term effects may occur to patients from having a second hip implant surgery, or from the release of the DePuy chromium and cobalt metals into their bloodstream.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

DePuy hip recall lawyers believe that DePuy’s “offer” is unfair. We will continue to urge all potential DePuy hip recall clients that they are entitled to full and fair compensation. After all, they did not cause their own harm – DePuy did. Why should the cost of DePuy’s defective product be placed on the victims?

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.
Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the full and fair compensation that DePuy is trying to evade.

DePuy Hip Implant – Was Yours Recalled?

As a New Jersey and Pennsylvania DePuy Hip Implant Recall lawyer, I receive many telephone calls from hip replacement patients. Many of these folks have done their own independent internet research and have seen numerous websites discussin different hip implants that have been recalled over the years. The most recent hip implant recall involves Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. DePuy Orthopaedics is a fully owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that designs, manufactures, and markets orthopaedic and reconstructive hardware for the spine, knee, shoulders, and other joints. Not all of DePuy’s products are being recalled. At this stage, the only DePuy Hip Implant which is subject to the recall in the United States is the ASR XL Acetabular hip system. These hip replacement systems first became available in the summer of 2003 and were in use for approximately seven (7) years.

DePuy Hip Implant – How Will I Know If Mine is a Recalled Implant?

If you have had hip surgery before July 2003, then your hip implant is not part of the DePuy Hip Implant recall. However, if you have had surgery after July 2003 and your surgeon utilized a DePuy ASR XL Acetabular hip system, then your hip is subject to the DePuy hip implant recall. Many patients have already received information from Johnson & Johnson and DePuy regarding these recalled hip implants. However, the information provided by Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics does not provide the full scope of the remedies available to DePuy Hip Implant patients. In fact, as of this blog, neither Johnson & Johnson nor DePuy have made any commitment to paying compensation for pain & suffering, or the common compensatory damages that most defective product manufacturers are required to pay when they make, market, and/or sell a defective product.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Lawyers in NJ and PA

The only way to know all of your rights is to contact a DePuy Hip Implant recall lawyer in New Jersey or Pennsylvania who can answer your questions free of charge. 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.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you deserve.