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Did you or a loved one receive a
metal-on-metal hip implant?
Zimmer Biomet Hip Replacement Lawsuit & Settlements
Defective medical device lawyers in Tennessee advocate for the rights of injured patients everywhere and fight manufacturers that put profits before the safety of the American people
For many years, Biomet Orthopedics was a nationally leading medical device manufacturer specializing in surgical products to replace hip, knee, shoulder and other joints. But the company's good reputation came crashing down with the release of their metal-on-metal M2a Magnum hip implant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began receiving hundreds of reports of complications from the Biomet hip implants from both doctors and patients. Yet, the devices were never recalled. Today, thousands of people have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer, and Biomet agreed to settle a large chunk of these cases in 2014 for $56 million. However, more than 400 unresolved lawsuits are still pending in federal court as of May 2018.
In 2014, Biomet was bought by its competitor, Zimmer, a company with its own troubled history of defective implants. Zimmer released it's Durom Acetabular Component (more commonly referred to as the Durom Cup) in 2006.
Soon after, the company faced more than 700 lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in a New Jersey federal court, and participants were ordered by the judge to participate in the settlement. However, 262 lawsuits are still pending due to patients who refused to take the settlement offer.
With these two medical device manufacturers now under one umbrella, the company undoubtedly faces a tough hurdle to prove their hip replacement devices are safe and effective for American consumers. Until then, and well after, our Tennessee injury lawyers are standing by to help injured people get the compensation they're owed from faulty metal-on-metal hip manufacturers like Zimmer Biomet.
Video courtesy of Consumer Reports
Did you or a loved one receive a metal-on-metal hip implant?
Gilreath & Associates helps patients recover financially from defective hip replacements manufactured by Zimmer Biomet
and other medical device makers by fighting to secure the compensation they are owed.
Complete the form below or call our attorneys today for a free consultation.
Sid Gilreath: Defending Americans Against Negligent Medical Manufacturers for 50+ Years
From our law offices in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, experienced Tennessee lawyers at Gilreath & Associates, led by nationally recognized attorney Sid Gilreath, provide honest and knowledgeable legal counsel to those who are affected in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast. Sid has been practicing law since 1962, so he is highly experienced in what it takes to win cases like yours.
Zimmer and Biomet Orthopedics knew their products were defective, but did nothing to warn the public of the risks. The devices were not properly tested, yet they manufactured and sold them anyways – to the detriment of thousands of patients and their families. This kind of blatant negligence simply cannot be tolerated. Our mission is to hold companies accountable for putting profits before the health and safety of the American people.
- Sid Gilreath, Founder of Gilreath & Associates
Zimmer Biomet Defective Hip FAQs
While Biomet's M2a Magnum hip implants were never officially recalled by the FDA, officials have received thousands of complaints from American consumers who suffered serious injury and required revision surgery due to the device's metal-on-metal design.
Likewise, the Durom Cup manufactured by Zimmer in 2006 has been the center of hundreds of lawsuits due to the device failing prematurely in patients.
Metal-on-metal hip implants from many different manufacturers have had a history of failing prematurely and causing "metallosis" (metal poisoning) in patients. When the metal head and the cup rub together, it releases cobalt and chromium particles into the bloodstream, which can result in any of the following health problems:
- Heart problems (cardiomyopathy)
- Dementia
- Loss of vision
- Chronic pain
- Soft tissue damage
- Pseudotumors
- Blood clots
- Blood vessel damage
- Hip dislocation
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Difficulting walking
First and foremost, you should visit your doctor – even if you aren't experiencing any of the symptoms associated with hip implant failure. Make your physician aware of the reported issue that pertains to your implant. They may recommend a CAT scan or MRI to check the condition of your device and test your blood to look for signs of metal poisoning.
Next, if revision surgery is required, you should contact an experienced defective hip implant lawyer immediately (before the operation if possible) to discuss your legal options and start collecting evidence for your case against the manufacturer.
If you've already undergone revision surgery, our team of attorneys can still gather evidence, so contact us right away.
Thousands of lawsuits have already been filed and billions of dollars won against negligent hip implant manufacturers like Zimmer Biomet. Most people who sued Biomet in a previous class-action lawsuit received $200,000 each to settle. In total, Biomet has shelled out $56 million in injury claims involving the M2a Magnum implant. Zimmer also offered to settle most of their lawsuits over its Durom Cup implants in March 2016 for $314 million.
The exact amount your case might be worth depends on when you received your implant and how much damage it has done. Talk to our lawyers to determine how much your individual case is worth. We're ready to help you calculate the value of your defective medical device case.
More Hip Replacement Information
Visit our blog and Tennessee Personal Injury Guide for more information.
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Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers at Gilreath & Associates offer free and personal consultation to help you evaluate your legal options.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover financially from an injury stemming from someone else's negligence.