Deadline Extended for Hip Implant Settlement

Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary DePuy have agreed to extend eligibility for its ASR defective hip implant settlement fund to patients who needed replacement hip surgery between Aug. 2013 and Jan. 31, 2015. The company expects to spend as much as $420 million to settle these lawsuits which were previously ineligible for the fund.

The ASR hip implants were recalled in 2010, after studies showed that the implants had an unacceptably high failure rate. The metal-on-metal hip implants were expected to last up to 20 years, but instead caused pain, dislocations, and blood poisoning. Thousands of people required replacement hip surgeries as a result. Internal documentation from Johnson & Johnson and DePuy indicated that as much as 44 percent of the hip implants failed within five years.

After a major loss in court, Johnson & Johnson decided to create a settlement fund which would pay compensation to those who were injured by their defective products. The fund was initially available only for claimants who had replacement surgery before Aug. 31, 2013.

The recent decision to expand the coverage of the settlement fund comes after intensifying criticism from patients who needed replacement surgery after the Aug. 2013 deadline. The longer deadline will allow approximately 1,400 patients to receive compensation for their injuries.

With the extended deadline, Johnson & Johnson is expected to pay out approximately $4 billion to resolve its defective hip claims. Individual claimants can expect to receive approximately $300,000 for each defective hip implant, with some exceptions.

If you were injured by a defective DePuy ASR hip implant, you may still be able to file a claim or a lawsuit. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn can help you seek compensation for your injuries, and will help seek justice from negligent medical device manufacturers.

Call (817) 920-9000 to schedule your free consultation today.