As a result of the increasing number of Stryker hip implant cases filed around the country, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has ordered the creation of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) so that a single judge can efficiently handle all of these cases.
MDLs are centralized locations for all federal cases involving a particular form of litigation, such as a drug or medical device, regardless of the jurisdiction in which any individual case was originally filed or would be filed. The purpose is to make litigation easier for all parties, especially plaintiffs who can pool their resources and cooperate when suing large corporations. MDLs are beneficial as they eliminate duplicative discovery, prevent inconsistent pretrial ruling, and make the overall process more efficient.
The Stryker Corporation is a manufacturer of hip implant and other medical devices and products. Recently, numerous reports have surfaced that certain Stryker hip implants are failing prematurely and causing numerous injuries to people who have had the devices implanted. As a result, Stryker Corporation recalled many of its hip implant, and numerous lawsuits have been filed across the country for injuries associated with the implants.
The current pending cases against Stryker allege that these devices have a propensity to fret, corrode, and fail prematurely causing injuries to the person with the implant.
The MDL for these cases has been established in the District of Minnesota, before the Honorable Donovan W. Frank. According to the panel that created the MD, the District of Minnesota and Judge Frank were chosen because Judge Frank is “an experienced transferee judge who is well-versed in the nuances of complex, multidistrict litigation and medical device cases.”
Lopez McHugh, LLP is investigating potential cases involving faulty hip implants. This includes hip implants manufactured by Stryker Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics. If you or a loved one has had a hip implant that has caused you injuries or have had revision surgery, please contact Lopez McHugh for a free case evaluation.
