According to the U.S. federal court where the Stryker Rejuvenate hip lawsuits have been consolidated, the cases in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) will be ready for trial during the summer of 2015.
Stryker Rejuvenate cases, are heading to early trial dates, known as “bellwether” trials, which helps the parties determine how juries may respond to trial evidence and testimony.
There are more than 1,500 product liability lawsuits alleging problems with Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II modular hip replacements. These modular hips were recalled in July 2012 after adverse complaints of implant fretting and corrosion, causing early hip implant failure.
Unique Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Design
The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II contains a modular two piece neck-stem, allowing the surgeon to customize the length of the femoral component based on the patient leg size. The design has been linked to chromium and cobalt metallosis from metal debris as the chromium-cobalt neck grinds against the titanium femoral stem.
Federal and State Court Actions
Over 600 Stryker Rejuvenate hip lawsuits have been centralized before U.S. District Judge Frank in the District of Minnesota as part of an MDL.
There are more than 873 cases are pending in New Jersey state court and claims are also pending in Florida state court. In New Jersey state court, all Stryker hip lawsuits have been centralized before Superior Court Judge Martinotti in Bergen County, where the cases is being coordinated as part of a Multi-County Litigation, or MCL.
Judge Martinotti ordered a mediation process in 2013, and the parties have agreed to resolve at least eight of the nine cases that have gone to mediation, and additional mediations are being scheduled.
If the parties fail to settle the litigation following the bellwether trials, the court will begin remanding the cases back to U.S. District Courts for individual trial dates.