Robert J. Boumis  |  January 23, 2014

Category: Legal News

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DePuy hip lawsuitHusband and wife Gerald and Ann Mullan have filed a lawsuit against DePuy Orthopaedics and several related companies over alleged complications from an artificial hip joint.

In March of 2006, Gerald Mullan received a metal on metal hip implant to replace his right hip joint. Later in June of 2007, his left hip was replaced by another DePuy metal on metal hip implant. Per the lawsuit, his hip implant started to cause him debilitating pain and soreness that affected his ability to perform daily living activities. His physicians also found elevated levels of cobalt in his blood, a toxic ion found in the liner of the metal-on-metal joint.

Mullan required two revision surgeries to remove the implants. The right hip implant was replaced in October of 2012, and the left in January of 2013. The lawsuit notes that hip revision surgery is more technically challenging for surgeons than the initial hip replacement, since the process of replacing the joint cuts out a lot of the hip bones. This means that during revision surgery, surgeons have less material to anchor the new joint into, making for a riskier surgery.

The Mullans’ lawsuit holds that DePuy did not do enough to test their metal on metal hip replacement system. To support this assertion, the lawsuit points out that DePuy was able to side-step some of the testing requirements for their artificial hip joints, since they were based on existing technology.

Additionally, the lawsuit further alleges that the manufacturers were aware of the risks and failed to warn the public. The lawsuit states that DePuy was “on notice” regarding the safety of their hip implants, in that various peer-reviewed journal articles, some dating back to 2006, which state the implants had many of the issues Mullan would eventually report with his hip implant.

The lawsuit is Gerald T. Mullan et al, vs. DePuy Orthopaedics, Incorporated et al, Civil Action No. 3:13-cv-04409-K, filed within the MDL In Re: DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated, Pinnacle Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2244, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Legal Help for Hip Replacement Complications

If you, or someone you care about, received a metal-on-metal hip joint and required revision surgery, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. Even a textbook hip joint replacement is a major surgery, and goes hand-in-hand with hospital bills, lost wages during surgery and recovery, and possibly lost income potential. This is compounded in patients requiring revision surgery, who have to go through many of the same challenges a second time. On top of this, revision surgery can be a more challenging procedure, since less of the original hipbone is left for surgeons to work with. When facing such a challenge, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.

But you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Metal on Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a free legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation.

In general, metal hip implant lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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Join a Free Metal Hip Replacement Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one had a metal-on-metal hip implant that failed or caused serious complications, you may be entitled to compensation. Hip replacement lawsuits are being filed now against multiple companies, including Stryker, Biomet, DePuy, Zimmer, and Wright. See if you qualify to take legal action by filling out the form below.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.