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Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger Files Defective Hip Lawsuits Against DePuy Orthopaedics

August 27, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Yesterday, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., announced a product recall for two models of its ASR hip implant device, 16 months after the San Francisco law firm of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger filed the first lawsuit on behalf of a victim of a defective DePuy ASR acetabular cup.

ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System devices were implanted in patients between 2003 and 2009. After selling more than 90,000 DePuy implants, Johnson and Johnson discontinued production and sales of the ASR hip replacements in 2009. DePuy admitted in an August 26, 2010, recall announcement that ASR acetabular cups have a failure rate of 12 percent to 13 percent.

"With 93,000 DePuy hip replacement units in patients around the world, that means approximately 11,150 people will be forced to undergo painful replacement surgeries because of the defects in the ASR acetabular cup," explained Walkup firm partner Michael A. Kelly.

Since March, 2009, Walkup, Melodia has filed additional DePuy hip implant defect cases in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of patients who have suffered:

- Pain and swelling in the hip, groin, leg or lower back
- Audible clicking or crunching sounds coming from the hip device
- Cup loosening, causing the sensation that the patients' hip was not in place
- Difficulty walking and decline in physical abilities
- Elevated levels of cobalt, chromium and other metals in the bloodstream

According to Walkup litigators Matthew Davis and Khaldoun Baghdadi, "while DePuy has said it will cover 'reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment,' patients should know that they are entitled to complete compensation, not just the amount DePuy decides to offer. DePuy's approach omits from consideration the physical pain the patient suffers from additional surgery and any lost wages or decreased earning capacity the person may experience because of damage done by the defective hip."

Patients who underwent a DePuy ASR hip replacement and who are now suffering symptoms should talk to an attorney and understand their legal rights to compensation.

Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger has put together a team of attorneys to focus on defective DePuy ASR acetabular cup cases. The team includes firm partners Michael A. Kelly and Matthew D. Davis as well as Khaldoun Baghdadi, Spencer Pahlke and Conor Kelly.

For more information on the Johnson & Johnson hip implant recall, the DePuy ASR hip implant recall lawsuit, or metal-on-metal hip implant defects, contact our law firm at (888) 799-3968 or e-mail mdavis@walkuplawoffice.com.To request a copy of the complaint filed in San Francisco Superior Court, call Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger at (888) 799-3968 or e-mail mdavis@walkuplawoffice.com.