Stryker Settlement Process Deadline Extended

Atlanta, GAThe deadline to enroll in the Stryker Orthopedics Rejuvenate Hip System settlement has been extended to March 30, 2015. This means patients who received a recalled ABG II Modular Hip System or Rejuvenate Modular Hip System still have time to register with the settlement, which was announced in late 2014.

In June 2012, Stryker Orthopedics voluntarily recalled its ABG II and Rejuvenate Modular Hip Systems due to increased risks of metallosis and a high early failure rate. On November 3, 2014, Stryker announced it would pay $1.45 billion to compensate patients who received one of its recalled hip devices. Patients who had one hip implanted and removed prior to November 3 are eligible for $300,000, while patients who had both hips implanted and removed will receive $600,000.

Some patients who had more serious injuries or required multiple surgeries could receive more than the base amount. Patients who had the hips implanted but were not able to have them removed because a doctor deemed them unable to undergo surgery are also included in the settlement.

Initially, the deadline for enrolling in the settlement was early March 2015, but the deadline has now been extended to March 30, 2015, giving patients affected by the hip system more time to register. Patients who were affected by the hip devices but did not already file a lawsuit can enroll in the settlement. Anyone wanting to enroll in the settlement must have registered claims with the Claims Processor by December 19, 2014.

Although the recalled Stryker systems were not only composed of metal, they contained enough metal-on-metal components to be linked to problems related to metal-on-metal devices, such as metal debris, tissue damage and metallosis. Metallosis occurs when miniscule metal particles enter the patient’s bloodstream.

According to Bloomberg (11/4/14), Stryker faced around 4,000 lawsuits consolidated in state court in New Jersey and federal court in Minnesota. Stryker is not the only company facing legal issues due to its metal-on-metal hip replacement devices. In 2014, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle claims linked to its DePuy ASR hip devices.

Patients who do not opt in to the settlement may still be able to pursue legal action against Stryker.

The New Jersey lawsuits were consolidated under In Re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular Hip Implant Litigation, 296 BER-L-936-13, Bergen County Superior Court (Hackensack). The federal lawsuits were consolidated under In RE Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, 13-mdl-2441, US District Court, District of Minnesota (St. Paul).