Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $1 billion settlement

Story highlights

• The jury dominated that the metal-on-metal implants had been faulty
• Lawyer: Plaintiffs suffered "critical medical issues"
• Each firms denied wrongdoing and can attraction

A lawyer for the six plaintiffs mentioned they suffered "critical medical issues attributable to faulty" metal-on-metal Pinnacle implants. The jurors discovered that the businesses did not warn sufferers and their medical doctors about dangers associated to the defectively designed product.

Every of the sufferers needed to endure a second, or revision, surgical procedure to switch the units and restore tissue harm and bone erosion. At the least one had obtained double hip implants.

The jury awarded greater than $30 million in precise damages and greater than $1 billion in punitive damages. Jurors dominated that Johnson & Johnson and DePuy had been negligent in designing the implant; did not warn physicians and sufferers about issues over the product; did not recollect it; and deliberately misrepresented the product's effectiveness to sufferers and their medical doctors.

"As soon as once more, a jury has listened to the testimony of each side, and returned a verdict affirming what we have identified all alongside: a accountable firm would settle these circumstances and deal with their injured customers, reasonably than forcing them by costly and vexatious litigation simply to delay justice," mentioned lead lawyer Mark Lanier of the Lanier Legislation Agency in Houston. "This jury spoke loud and clear, and I hope J&J will lastly pay attention."

Each Johnson & Johnson and DePuy denied wrongdoing and mentioned they may attraction.

"We've no higher duty than to the sufferers who use our merchandise, and our purpose is to create medical improvements that assist individuals stay extra lively and comfy lives," mentioned Mindy Tinsley, spokeswoman for DePuy. "DePuy acted appropriately and responsibly within the design and testing of ULTAMET Steel-on-Steel, and the product is backed by a powerful monitor report of scientific information displaying decreased ache and restored mobility for sufferers affected by power hip ache."

That is the third bellwether -- or check -- trial of 1000's of comparable lawsuits filed towards the businesses.

In March, a Dallas jury awarded greater than $500 million to a bunch of plaintiffs who suffered related issues from the hip implants. The decide in that case, who additionally presided over this week's ruling, later decreased the quantity of awarded damages to $154 million, citing Texas regulation. Johnson & Johnson and DePuy have appealed that ruling.

Within the first trial, in 2014, a jury dominated in favor of the medical firms.

A fourth bellwether trial is scheduled for September 2017.