Stryker Rejuvenate Defective Metal Hips Continue to Settle

In a New Jersey state court Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit case, an agreement has been reached to settle at least one more recalled Stryker Rejuvenate hip lawsuit. Recently five out of the eight cases scheduled for court-ordered mediation process have settled.

1,200 Stryker Hip Lawsuits

There are about 1,200 defective product liability hip lawsuits filed by folks injured after receiving a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II modular hip implant. These Stryker hips were recalled in July 2012, after medical reports revealed that the metal on metal design was subject to early failure within a few years.

Federal Minnesota MDL

There are about 600 cases pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the federal lawsuits are centralized for pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank as part of an MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation.

New Jersey State MCL

There are about 650 cases pending in New Jersey state court. The New Jersey litigation has also been centralized for pretrial proceedings, consolidated before Judge Brian R. Martinotti as part of an MCL, or MultiCounty Litigation.

Judge Martinotti has established a mediation process last year in the New Jersey litigation. In phase 1 of Stryker Rejuvenate mediation, a group of 10 cases were selected for early settlement negotiations.

New Jersey Mediation Process

Judge Martinotti is starting the process for a “Phase 2”, ordering the parties to submit a list of cases that will be eligible for this second round of mediation by February 4. The Court will then announce the final selections by February 11. Those mediations will be scheduled for dates in the second half of March and April 2014.

Scope of Stryker Problem

Before the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II implant worldwide recall in July 2012, an estimated 20,000 components were sold. As Stryker hips continue to fail, it is expected that several thousand cases will be brought in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

What is Wrong with Stryker Hips?

The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II contain a modular neck-stems, which consists of two pieces that fit inside each other to allow the surgeon to customize the length of the femoral component. The design causes metallosis from the release of metal debris as the chromium-cobalt neck grinds against the titanium femoral stem.

Although hip replacements are expected to last 15 to 20 years, the Stryker Rejuvenate recall was issued less than two years after the design was introduced.