September 7, 2017 A Bid by Consumers to Consolidate State Court Lawsuits Over Stryker Corp.’s Allegedly Defective Hip Replacement Device is Approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
The Supreme Court of New Jersey approved a bid by consumers to consolidate claims against Stryker Corp. for its allegedly defective metal-on-metal hip implants – Stryker LFIT Anatomic Cobalt Chromium V40 femoral heads. All pending and future claims against Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Stryker’s New Jersey-based unit, for its hip replacement device will be designated as multicounty litigation. This designation will serve to assist plaintiffs in coordinated discovery, and simplifies the resolution of various issues common to all of the consolidated claims, such as breach of warranty, design defect, failure to warn, and manufacturing defects.
What are the Claims Against Stryker Corp.?
Allegedly, the problem with Stryker’s metal-on-metal hip implant is “taper lock failure.” This failure occurs when the femoral head of the device fails to fully lock onto the stem at the stem-head taper junction. The failure to lock can result in the head completely breaking off from the stem, causing it to become loose in the body and requiring immediate revision surgery to replace both parts of the hip replacement device.
Additionally, the alleged defects with the femoral heads of the metal-on-metal hip implants can cause corrosion at the junction of the head and stem. This corrosion results in the release of metal particles into surrounding tissue and bone, which can cause ligaments and muscles around the hip to become inflamed and can also cause heavy metal blood poisoning.
Who is Responsible for Medical Device Injuries?
It is the manufacturers of medical devices who are responsible for ensuring that their products are properly tested and safe for consumer use. Unfortunately, corporations frequently choose profits over consumer safety and may rush products to market that could be defective and dangerous. Each year, the United States Food and Drug Administration receives over 200,000 reports of medical devices that malfunction and/or cause serious injuries.
One way corporations have been held responsible for the injuries caused by their negligence is through medical device litigation. Law firms like Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel are successfully holding manufacturers accountable for their faulty medical devices. Legal action against medical device makers can help encourage these manufacturers to properly test their products to ensure they are safe for use in the human body.
Who is Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel?
Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is a mid-sized plaintiffs’ firm with a robust medical device practice. The experienced attorneys of the firm fight to hold manufacturers of faulty medical devices responsible for the injuries they cause. If you have been injured by a medical device, such as a metal-on-metal hip implant, you deserve justice and compensation. Email or call 800.226.9880 to see how Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel can help you with your claim.
