November 13, 2013 — Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has agreed to pay $4 billion to settle 7,500 hip implant lawsuits involving the DePuy ASR. It is the largest medical device settlement in U.S. history, according to a report by Bloomberg Businessweek.
The problem with the DePuy ASR is that it was marketed as a longer-lasting, more durable implant due to its metal-on-metal design. Instead, the metal “ball-and-socket” could grind together when a patient walked and shed metal debris into a patient’s body. Over time, particles of chromium and cobalt could destroy tissues in the hip and cause metal poisoning, inflammation, swelling, and premature failure of the implant.
According to a study published in the Bone and Joint Journal in February 2011, premature failure occurred within 6 years for 50% of people who had a total hip replacement, and 25% of people with hip resurfacing.
J&J Pays $2.2 Billion in Risperdal Lawsuit Settlements
Last week, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) paid $2.2 billion to settle lawsuits alleging that they illegally marketed Risperdal for uses that were not approved by the FDA (“off-label”) in children, elderly dementia patients, and people with intellectual disabilities. The company is now facing about 500 lawsuits from people who were injured by Risperdal. Over 130 Risperdal lawsuits involve gynecomastia (enlargement of male breasts), a severe side effect of Risperdal.
Allegations raised in the Risperdal litigation are similar to those raised in the ASR cases. In both cases, J&J is accused of marketing the products as safe and effective while concealing risk information. Risperdal, a powerful anti-psychotic, was linked to severe side effects in children in the 1990s. Even so, J&J marketed Risperdal to children from 1999 to 2005. Likewise, J&J had internal documents linking the ASR hip implant to a high premature failure rate, but did not disclose this risk information and continued marketing the ASR.
Do I have a Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting metal hip implant induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the DePuy ASR, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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