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Stryker Hip Settlement – Time Is Running Out

The big news for 4,000 Stryker hip lawsuit plaintiffs is that a settlement was reached in November 2014. The company has agreed to set aside an initial $1 billion in order to pay compensation to patients who experienced medical problems due to the failure of their Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II Modular hip replacements.

These devices were recalled in July 2012. The use of cobalt and titanium in these artificial hips was thought to make them more durable; however, they had a tendency to corrode and shed microscopic particles of metal into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. The result: a toxic condition known as metallosis, which is known to cause pain, swelling and inflammation, deterioration of the bone and necrosis (literally, death of the surrounding tissues). Extensive and expensive revision surgeries are necessary, and the effects can last for the remainder of a patient's life.

Reaching this settlement avoided the protracted litigation of a Stryker hip lawsuit that might have continued for months or even years. Still, it took months of intensive negotiations between the parties, both in the federal MDL in Minnesota, and in state courts around the country, to reach a settlement that is favorable to most revised Stryker cases.

Each revised Stryker hip lawsuit plaintiff can expect to receive approximately $300,000 per hip (so, plaintiffs who have had two Stryker hip replacements receive $600,000). However, this may not be the end of it for Stryker and Howmedica Osteonics Corporation. According to Ben Gordon, with Levin Papantonio, one of the Lead Counsel Committee members, appointed by Federal District Judge Donovan Frank to help manage the MDL cases, there is no cap on the overall settlement funded by Stryker, because here is no limit to the numbers of revised plaintiffs who can come forward and seek compensation in this settlement. Furthermore, conditions such as obesity and tobacco use have no bearing on the amount of the initial award, unlike in recent past settlements with other hip implant makers.

All of this is good news for Stryker hip lawsuit plaintiffs who have already had their hip implants revised. However, those with Stryker implants that have not yet been revised are NOT covered by this settlement, and should seek legal advice immediately. Revised claimants should be aware of certain deadlines if they wish to receive compensation. Enrollment in the settlement begins on January 16 and ends on March 2. Those with questions about eligibility and other issues related to their Stryker hip-related injuries—especially those who are still awaiting their revision surgeries--should contact a Stryker Hip Recall attorney.

For more information regarding the Stryker Hip Lawsuit, visit our Stryker Hip Recall Lawsuit web page.

 

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