2.5 Billion DePuy Hip Implant Settlement Announced in Accord that May Be Worth More Than $4 Billion

On November 19, Johnson and Johnson announced a settlement of $2.5 billion to resolve the thousands of lawsuits over its recalled hip implants in an accord that may be worth more than $4 billion.  There are about 12,000 suits filed in federal and state courts which face Johnson and Johnson and its unit DePuy.

The terms of the settlement were heard by U.S. District Judge David Katz in Toledo, Ohio.  Johnson and Johnson will pay $250,000 per patient and covers those who had their implants removed or replaced before August 31 this year.  Hip recipients who suffered extreme injuries from the device's failure, or endured long hospital stays after removal may be provided more money by the settlement.

In 2005, Johnson and Johnson promoted the metal-on-metal implants as a new design that would last 20 years and offer greater range of motion.  Patients complained in lawsuits that the implants caused dislocations, pain and follow up revision surgeries.  They claimed that debris from the chromium and cobalt device caused tissue death and increased metal ions in the bloodstream.  As failure mounted, Johnson and Johnson recalled 93,000 ASR hip implants worldwide in August 2010.

The settlement terms state that 94 percent of eligible claimants must sign up for the settlement or Johnson and Johnson can withdraw from the deal.  The pact does not bar patients whose hip implants fail in the future from seeking compensation.  To read more on the settlement Click here.  To read more about the DePuy Hip Implant Recall lawsuit that Pendley, Baudin and Coffin has been litigating for years click here.

If you or a family member have undergone replacement surgery for a defective DePuy hip implant or have been told your DePuy ASR or ASR XL hip implant must be replaced, please fill out the Contact Us section of our website or call us at 1-888-725-2477 to contact one of the attorneys at Pendley, Baudin and Coffin and have your potential case confidentially evaluated.