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New Jersey company faces growing product liability suit

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2012 | Product Liability

Earlier this week, we wrote about the recent influx of product liability lawsuits against New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson regarding its vaginal mesh implant products, which have resulted in injury and death in hundreds of women throughout the country. The vaginal mesh suits are not the only litigation facing Johnson & Johnson at this time. The company is also defending itself against a growing class action products liability lawsuit after “mechanical failure” forced the recall of hundreds of artificial joints.

Specifically, the plaintiffs in the suit are claiming that artificial hips manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics failed, causing them intense pain and to ultimately have a surgery to repair the joint. In addition, the FDA recently found that friction between the parts of the metal-on-metal joint was causing “metal debris” to be released into patients’ bodies. This resulted in elevated levels of cobalt and chromium in patients’ blood.

Although there have been no conclusive studies on the effects of the increased levels of those metals, the FDA states that metal particles around the implanted joint can cause damage to surrounding tissue and bone.

DePuy never admitted that its artificial hip products were defective, but instituted a voluntary recall after a study showed that a high number of patients needed a revisionary operation/

So far, about 250 plaintiffs have joined in a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after their DePuy hips were recalled in 2010. As the recall grows, so will the number of plaintiffs. Some New Jersey personal injury attorneys expect that number to reach 1,000 by the end of 2012.

If you or a family member have suffered illness or injuries from a DePuy artificial joint, please contact Breslin & Breslin for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.

Source: NorthJersey.com, “Suit grows against NJ-based manufacturer over recalled artificial hips,” Kibret Markos, Feb. 2, 2012

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