Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of claims alleging problems with the DePuy ASR hip system.

One of the most recent product liability claims comes from a Michigan couple, alleging the design flaws of the metal on metal DePuy ASR hip system worsened the patient’s medical condition.

Plaintiff Judith B. and husband Ted B. are filing this DePuy ASR metal hip implant lawsuit, with Judith alleging she had suffered serious hip implant complications and had to undergo revision surgery due to the defective nature of the DePuy ASR hip system.

According to the DePuy ASR metal hip implant lawsuit, Judith had opted for the DePuy ASR hip system for typical treatment purposes and had followed all post surgical instructions.

Similar to numerous other patients who opted for the DePuy ASR hip system, after Judith and her orthopedic physician had reviewed marketing materials from Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics.

Judith says these marketing statements described the DePuy ASR hip system as a superior option for patients looking to restore lost movement, caused by debilitating injury or deteriorating disease.

Overview of DePuy ASR Hip System Problems

With these marketing statements in mind, Judith says she underwent right hip replacement surgery on April 15, 2009 and had the DePuy ASR hip system implanted. While Judith did not experience any initial adverse reactions to the metal on metal hip implant, she says she later experienced a number of device complications including pain, stiffness, discomfort, and weakness.

Judith reports experiencing limited mobility and debilitating pain, which eventually forced her to undergo revision surgery on Oct. 25, 2017. Judith had the DePuy ASR hip system explanted, and has since had to contend with rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Judith and Ted opted to file the DePuy ASR metal hip implant lawsuit after discovering the metal on metal hip implant had been recalled from the market due to issues like metallosis. Metallosis, or blood metal poisoning, occurs when the all-metal ball and socket joint components of the device interact and shed metal ions into the bloodstream.

This can cause a number of problems for patients including debilitating pain, limited mobility, fretting, corrosion, infection, inflammation, tissue death, and formation of pseudotumors. Patients often have to undergo revision surgery to fix these problems, which is considered higher risk than the initial implant surgery.

Due to numerous cases of metallosis, the FDA announced the voluntary recall of the DePuy ASR hip system on Aug. 24, 2010 with 93,000 units recalled around the world and 37,000 in the United States. The recall was issued after DePuy reviewed data from the United Kingdom joint registry had found a 13 percent failure rate, in conjunction with the DePuy ASR hip system.

Even though device failure with metal hip implants can be devastating to patients, DePuy Orthopaedics allegedly failed to warn the public. Judith and Ted’s DePuy ASR metal hip implant lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2197, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

Judith and Ted may also be eligible to participate in the DePuy ASR hip system settlement fund, which is open to patients who have had to undergo revision surgery since March 2015.

This DePuy ASR Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-dp-20010-JJH, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio, Western Division.