A DePuy hip lawsuit has been filed by an Arizona woman who alleges the metal-on-metal hip implant caused her years of pain and released toxic levels of metal into her bloodstream before it finally had to be removed.

Plaintiff Paulette P. is accusing DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. and Johnson & Johnson of concealing the hip implant’s design flaws, the failure rate and the unreasonable risks of developing metal poisoning from its PinnacleHip System product.

Paulette had a total hip replacement in June 2009 and was implanted with the metal-on-metal Pinnacle device, according to her hip implant lawsuit. Within two years, the plaintiff claims she began experiencing hip and groin pain and sought out the advice of her physician.

Paulette was told to return in a year if the pain persisted. After another year of pain, her metal hip replacement lawsuit said, the plaintiff returned to her doctor where a metal test and whole body scan was ordered. The scan was negative for loosening of the hip implant.

Then after another year of hip and groin pain, Paulette sought a second opinion, and an MRI and blood test confirmed there was fluid build-up on her right hip and elevated metal levels in her bloodstream. The hip replacement complications prompted her treating physician to recommend the removal of the PinnacleHip System implant.

The plaintiff claims she has a permanent disfiguring scar from the additional hip surgery and incurred substantial hospital and rehabilitation expenses.

The DePuy lawsuit alleges that the defendants “acted with the gross negligence and willful and wanton disregard of the safety of the general public and of the plaintiff by knowingly and intentionally continuing to market, promote and sell the device with no warning concerning the known high risk of failure and injury so as to maximize their sales and profits at the expense of the health and safety of the public and of the plaintiff.”

Paulette is seeking more than $75,000 in physical and emotional damages.

Hip Implant Side Effects

Thousands of hip implant lawsuits have been filed by patients like Paulette who claim manufacturers were negligent in their warnings of severe side effects. Patients reported metal-on-metal hip implant side effects include:

• Cobalt poisoning
• Heart disease
• Tissue death
• Cancer
• Chromium or cobalt leaking into bloodstream
• Metal poisoning
• Loss of bone strength
• Non-cancerous tumors around implant

After multiple reports and studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a voluntary recall of metal-on-metal hip implants that included 93,000 around the world.

Hip Replacement Lawsuits

The number of hip replacement lawsuits continues to grow, many of them settling with considerable financial compensation for plaintiffs. In 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle 7,500 hip implant lawsuits by awarding the plaintiffs $2.5 billion dollars collectively.

Other recent settlements with hip implant manufacturers have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars for individuals who allege they continue to suffer after a failed hip replacement implant.

Paulette claims her hip implant injuries are permanent and continuing. Her injuries allegedly include loss of enjoyment of life, disability, anxiety and depression.

The Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 3:15-cv-01638-K, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.