Lawyers for people who were injured by Stryker’s recalled LFIT V40 hip implant are asking federal judges to centralize the litigation into a “mass action” in one federal court.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting LFIT V40 hip replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know had surgery to remove a metal hip implant, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
LFIT V40 Recall
In 2016, Stryker issued a recall for approximately 42,500 of the LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 femoral heads after receiving a “higher than expected” number of complaints about taper lock failures. The implants were sold from 2002 – 2011.
Stryker Issues Urgent Safety Warning
In August 2016, Stryker issued an urgent warning about the potential risk of “taper lock failures” — a complication that occurs when a metal part called a trunnion wears out.
Taper Lock Failures
The trunnion connects the “ball” part of the hip joint (in this case, the LFIT V40) to a metal stem on the patient’s leg. If it wears out, the hip can suddenly dislocate. This is called a “taper lock failure” and it can cause the following side effects:
- Loss of mobility
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Adverse local tissue reaction
- Dislocation
- Joint instability
- Broken bones around the components
- Leg length discrepancy
- Need for revision surgery
LFIT V40 Lawsuits
In January 2017, a lawsuit (PDF) was filed by a man from Alaska who needed revision surgery when his LFIT V40 hip replacement failed early. The man was implanted with an LFIT V40 femoral head and an Accolade TMZF femoral stem. The combination of these two components created a problematic metal-on-metal hip implant.
He developed metal poisoning (metallosis) due to elevated levels of cobalt in his bloodstream — a symptom of corrosion — along with severe pain and a soft-tissue mass in his hip. When doctors removed the implant in early 2015, they found inflammation, tissue reactions, worn-out metal parts, and wrote: “One could clearly see extensive corrosion present at this site.”
What is the problem?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is nationally recognized as a class action law firm. However, our lawyers are not filing a class action against Stryker for injuries caused by the LFIT V40 hip implant. Instead, we are filing individual lawsuits for people who needed surgery.
Revision Surgery Risks
There is no excuse for selling defective hip replacements. Many people with bad hips are elderly, and revision surgery is physically traumatic. It involves removing the femoral stem and pounding a new spike into the top of the femur. In many cases, patients are left with permanent disabilities because one leg is shorter than the other.
Multi-District Litigation (MDL) vs. Class Action
Tens of thousands of people who were injured by defective hip implants have filed lawsuits — but not as part of a class action. Instead, they are individual lawsuits that are centralized in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL). The MDL process is very similar to a class action, but it allows each person’s case to remain independent.
Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit Settlement
After Stryker recalled the ABG II and Rejuvenate hip implants in 2012, around 6,000 lawsuits were filed by people who were injured. Most of these lawsuits have been resolved as part of a $1 billion settlement agreement that provided a base payout of $300,000 per hip surgery.
About Class Actions
Class actions are useful for people who are seeking a relatively small payout — for example, a refund for a defective product. The problem with class actions is that each person’s lawsuit is consolidated into one lawsuit, so everyone in the class action must share the payout.
Why Our Law Firm is Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Class Action
If you were injured by a hip implant that was recalled because it was defective, you have a right to seek justice. Our lawyers file individual lawsuits so we can focus on helping people with the most serious injuries. If you decide to file a lawsuit, you could receive compensation for your physical pain, emotional suffering, medical expenses (past and future), permanent injuries, disability, lost income, decreased quality of life, and more.
Do I have a LFIT V40 Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting LFIT V40 hip replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know had surgery to remove a metal hip implant, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
