Federal Jury Orders J&J to Pay $1.04 Billion in Hip Implant Lawsuit
- Last Updated: August 11th, 2023
Attorney Jessie Paluch, founder of TruLaw, has over 25 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.
Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.
Fact-Checked
TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
Federal Jury Orders J&J to Pay $1.04 Billion in Hip Implant Lawsuit
On December 1, 2016 a Texas federal jury found Johnson’s & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. unit liable for over $1.04 billion for negligently designing the Pinnacle hip implant.
J&J was also found liable for aiding and abetting DePuy in each of the seven causes of action.
Although the jury did not find that J&J conspired with DePuy on the design defect claim, it found J&J liable for conspiracy on the other six claims.
The company stopped selling the devices in 2013 after the FDA toughened artificial hip regulations.
Table of Contents
Hip Implant Lawsuit Verdict Sets Record
A Texas federal jury handed down the record-setting verdict on December 1st:
- $4 to $6 million in damages for physical injuries and pain and suffering for each of the six plaintiffs
- $1 million each to four spouses for loss of consortium
- Punitive damages of more than $504 million against both DePuy and J&J
The verdict is the third largest overall jury award of 2016.
The largest award ($3 billion) was made in June in a breach of contract case brought against Oracle Corporation.
Six of the seven largest product-defect verdicts in the U.S. this year have been against J&J units, including three coming in talcum lawsuits alleging that the company’s talc powder products cause ovarian cancer.
Other J&J Hip Implant Lawsuits
J&J faces nearly 9,000 lawsuits over their Pinnacle hip implants, which have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Texas federal court.
Common allegations of these claims charge that friction between the hip implant device’s metal socket and metal ball head releases billions of microscopic metal particles, contaminating the blood stream and the surrounding tissue with “wear debris” over time.
This debris can damage the bone and tissue surrounding the implant and joint, resulting in pain, implant loosening, device failure, and the need for revision surgery, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
At TruLaw, we fiercely combat corporations that endanger individuals’ well-being. If you’ve suffered injuries and believe these well-funded entities should be held accountable, we’re here for you.
With TruLaw, you gain access to successful and seasoned lawyers who maximize your chances of success. Our lawyers invest in you—they do not receive a dime until your lawsuit reaches a successful resolution!
Do you believe you’re entitled to compensation?
Use our Instant Case Evaluator to find out in as little as 60 seconds!
AFFF Lawsuit claims are being filed against manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), commonly used in firefighting.
Claims allege that companies such as 3M, DuPont, and Tyco Fire Products failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of AFFF exposure — including increased risks of various cancers and diseases.
Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit claims are being filed against Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.
Claims allege that Indivior failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of severe tooth decay and dental injuries associated with Suboxone’s sublingual film version.
Social Media Harm Lawsuits are being filed against social media companies for allegedly causing mental health issues in children and teens.
Claims allege that companies like Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap designed addictive platforms that led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues without adequately warning users or parents.
Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers of transvaginal mesh products used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Claims allege that companies like Ethicon, C.R. Bard, and Boston Scientific failed to adequately warn about potential dangers — including erosion, pain, and infection.
Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits involve claims against 3M — alleging their surgical warming blankets caused severe infections and complications (particularly in hip and knee replacement surgeries).
Plaintiffs claim 3M failed to warn about potential risks — despite knowing about increased risk of deep joint infections since 2011.
Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit claims are being filed against manufacturers of cow’s milk-based baby formula products.
Claims allege that companies like Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company (Enfamil) failed to warn about the increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants.
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
