June 2, 2015 — Trial is underway in California on behalf of a man who needed 14 revision surgeries after his Wright Profemur hip replacement failed prematurely.
Law360 reports that the lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Alan Warner. He says it broke suddenly when he went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, causing excruciating pain.
The lawsuit is one of roughly 1,200 similar claims pending against Wright. However, Warner’s case is unusual because the implant broke on the stem rather than the head of the implant.
Many other lawsuits also claim that the metal-on-metal design caused particles of chromium and cobalt to leech into the bloodstream, damage tissues and bone in the hip, or cause metallosis (metal poisoning).
Warner’s attorneys say the implant broke because it was weakened by laser etchings:
“The component snapped … and the reason he had so much pain is because basically he didn’t have a left hip joint. The joint became essentially nonfunctional.”
According to court documents, about 600 similar lawsuits have been filed in a consolidated state-court litigation in California. Hundreds more are pending in a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No 2329) in Georgia. Wright has already settled at least two lawsuits, including one in California and another that was set for trial in Georgia in 2013.
Do I have a Wright Hip Implant Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Wright Conserve and Profemur induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a defective hip replacement, 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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