Hip Replacement Device Lands Smith & Nephew in Suit

A California couple filed a product liability lawsuit against the medical device maker Smith & Nephew alleging that the company manufactured and sold a flawed hip replacement device that caused injury to one of the plaintiffs and requires a second surgery to remove.

According to the complaint, on or about May 24, 2007, a hip resurfacing device was implanted in William Reilly’s left hip. The device consisted of a Smith & Nephew Synergy femoral component, chrome-cobalt modular head sleeve, and a chrome-cobalt Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System acetabular cup.

In 2011, blood testing revealed high levels of cobalt and chromium in Reilly’s bloodstream that was caused by the deterioration of the device, according to the complaint. High levels of these metals in the blood may be carcinogenic and life-threatening, and cause metal-on-metal disease.  As a consequence, Reilly will have to undergo another surgery to have the implant removed to avoid further injury.

The product liability lawsuit claims among other things that the makers of the device made false claims about its safety and quality and that the device was defectively designed and manufactured. The plaintiffs claimed that besides causing serious physical damage and mental trauma, the failure of the device has also caused  financial strain.

The suit was filed against Smith & Nephew in federal court in Southern California.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe product, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you. 

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