Millions set Aside for DePuy

Johnson & Johnson, the Depuy hip replacement manufacture, has set aside $922 million to cover litigation costs. In its fourth quarter earnings, the company said its DePuy Orthopedics subsidiary faces a growing number of suits over its ASR hip replacements. While the amount set aside will involve this money for settlement, in our opinion it won’t be enough to satisfy all claims.

DePuy, an Indiana-based division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled the ASR hip system on August 26, 2010 after hundreds of patients complained to the Food and Drug Administration that the device failed soon after implantations. The Lawsuits seek redress for severe injuries, debilitating pain severe inflammation of surrounding tissue and bone, loss of mobility and the need for surgery to remove and replace the ASR hip implant devices.

As we have previously reported the more than 100 hip recall lawsuits were recently consolidated in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for pretrial proceedings.

There will be more cases filed in the near future.