Texas Jury Awards $247 Million in Pinnacle Metal-on-Metal Hip Trial

• November 17, 2017
• Verdicts and Settlements, Hip Replacements

November 16, 2017 – A Texas federal jury reached a unanimous verdict – finding against Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.  – awarding $247 million dollars to six hip replacement patients who suffered serious injuries from the Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implants.

Fourth Pinnacle Bellwether Trial

According to the six Plaintiffs, they suffered a range of injuries, which included severe tissue damage that caused permanent muscle loss, intense pain, loss of hip movement and walking with a permanent limp.

A combined $247 million verdict was awarded to the Plaintiffs.

• $90 million in punitive damages against Johnson & Johnson.
• $78 million in punitive damages against DePuy Orthopaedics.
• Each Plaintiff was awarded more than $77 million in past and future medical expenses and pain and suffering.
• Four of the Plaintiff’s spouses were awarded loss of consortium damages, which totaled $1.7 million.

The jury found that Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics were liable for:

• Negligent design and manufacturing defects
• Inadequate warning
• Fraud and deceptive business practices
• Wanton, reckless or malicious conduct

Previous Bellwether Trial Outcomes

Bellwether trials are conducted to give both sides an idea of the arguments the other will make during a trial and to provide insight into how juries are likely to decide each trial.

This is the fourth bellwether trial in the multidistrict litigation, which includes more than 9,000 cases alleging design defects in DePuy’s Pinnacle line of metal-on-metal implants.

The first Bellwether trial was for a single Plaintiff. Bellwether trials since this one have been multiple-plaintiff trials. This means that the same jury hears from numerous Plaintiffs who had the same implant and similar injuries.

• The first Bellwether trial was awarded to Johnson & Johnson.
• In March 2016, the second bellwether trial, the jury found in favor of the Plaintiffs, awarding them $500 million. This amount was later reduced to $150 million by the courts, stating that the jury award exceeded certain limits set by law.
• In March 2017, the third bellwether trial, the jury again found for the Plaintiffs. This time, the award was for more than $1 billion in damages. However, once again, the court determined that the jury award exceeded certain limits set by law. The amount was reduced to $543 million.

Receive a Free Evaluation from Experienced Attorneys

The attorneys at Nash & Franciskato offer a free, no-obligation case review to individuals who have suffered complications allegedly associated with failed metal-on-metal hip implant systems. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact us today.

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Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.