Zimmer May Have Known Knee Risks, Alleges Lawsuit

A new lawsuit filed on January 5th, 2012, by plaintiff James Furman against Zimmer Inc. is the latest in a number of Zimmer knee lawsuits that alleges Zimmer knew the risks associated with its NexGen knee replacement systems and decided to manufacture and market the devices anyway. The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Minnesota, by Furman's Zimmer knee lawyer, states that Furman received a Zimmer knee replacement system--the NexGen LPS-Flex femoral component--on July 18 2006. From there, he experienced a number of complications.

Plaintiff experienced Zimmer knee side effects

The complaint filed by Furman's Zimmer knee lawyer states that neither Furman nor his physicians knew of the risks and potential complications associated with Zimmer knee replacement systems at the time, including the NexGen products which have been central in so many Zimmer lawsuits. Not long after he received the device, he began to experience severe side effects, including "severe and debilitating pain after the implant" to the point that his knee joint mobility was limited. Furman was forced to undergo Zimmer knee revision surgery on the 23rd of December, 2008, according to the complaint. 

Zimmer knee side effects associated with surgical technique, company claims

Although a number of patients have come forward with stories of severe Zimmer knee problems, Zimmer continues to claim that problems with NexGen devices do not stem from defects in the products themselves; instead, they place the blame on inadequate surgical technique. However, a number of lawsuits, including Furman's, claim that Zimmer actually knew of the possibility of complications and side effects associated with Zimmer devices, and should have warned patients and medical professionals more thoroughly. 

Furman seeks compensatory and special damages because of his Zimmer knee injuries, asking for more than $75,000 to cover past and present injuries, medical expenses (past and future), lost income, and permanent disability. His Zimmer knee lawyer is also claiming product liability, negligence, and breach of warranty in the Zimmer knee complaint. 

Alabama Zimmer Lawsuit Moved to Zimmer Knee MDL

A lawsuit entered the U.S. District Court System in the Southern District of Alabama was filed by Willa J. Crawford, an Alabama resident, on November 23, 2011. This was one of many involving the Zimmer CR Flex implant. Her claim stated that her CR Flex implant had loosened prematurely, and as a result of this and other related Zimmer knee problems Ms. Crawford had to undergo Zimmer knee revision surgery to replace the implant. This lawsuit is not dissimilar from many other Zimmer lawsuits that have been filed across the country. 

Ms. Crawford's Zimmer knee lawsuit was moved to the Zimmer multi district litigation taking place in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois earlier this month, on the 4th of January 2012. This move means that the case is being considered along with the other cases that have been filed based on Zimmer knee complaints from patients who have been experiencing Zimmer knee complications and side effects.

The Future Of Zimmer Knee Lawsuits To Be Decided In Illinois

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer NexGen recall have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Following oral arguments last month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order on Monday establishing the MDL, which will result in the transfer of dozens of Zimmer NexGen knee implant lawsuits currently pending in federal district courts throughout the United States. In addition, all future lawsuits will be transferred to the MDL as they are filed by Zimmer knee lawyer who are continuing to review claims for individuals throughout the country.

The NexGen MIS Tibial component is marketed and promoted as compatible with the LPS-Flex and CR-Flex femoral components and they are often used together. According to the motion, of the 28 cases now pending against Zimmer, many are a combination of a NexGen high-flex and NexGen MIS tibial. Zimmer obtained approval for the Zimmer NexGen recall components through the FDA’s controversial 510(k) approval process,

Judicial Panel Claims Zimmer Knee’s “High-Flex” Shows No Improvement

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer NexGen knee replacements have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.Following oral arguments last month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order on Monday establishing the MDL, which will result in the transfer of dozens of Zimmer NexGen knee implant Zimmer knee lawsuit. The panel indicated that there are currently 28 cases that will be transferred into the MDL, and there appear to be at least 45 related claims pending that may be included in the MDL as well. In addition, all future lawsuits will be transferred to the MDL as they are filed by Zimmer knee lawyer who are continuing to review claims for individuals throughout the country.

Zimmer opposed consolidation of the lawsuits, arguing that it will not promote the efficient litigation of the cases, as there are at least eight different artificial Zimmer knee problems products made by the company that are included in various lawsuits.

Various Zimmer Knee Products Listed in Lawsuits

A number of Zimmer NexGen recall replacement recalls have been issued and problems have been linked to other NexGen replacement knee components. As a result of defective designs, individuals throughout the United States may have been exposed to an increased risk of loosening or early failure, often resulting in the need for Zimmer knee revision surgery. More than 200,000 potentially defective Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components may have been used throughout the United States, which could have caused thousands of people to experience problems or require additional knee revision surgery due to early failure of their knee replacement.

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer knee recall replacements have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Zimmer Lower’s Revenue Estimates While Lawsuits Rage In Court

Back in July, Zimmer Holdings predicted its sales revenues to increase between 2.5% and 3.5%. The Company reported revenues of $4.220 billion for fiscal 2010. According toestimates, analysts were expecting the Company to report EPS of $4.77 on revenues of $4.473 billion for fiscal 2011. Since July of this year, Zimmer stock has been steadily sinking to the tune of about $15 per share or 22%. Zimmer has had a rough year on many fronts, not the least of which is the ever increasing number of lawsuits building against its knee and hip replacements. Since 2003, more than 200,000 Zimmer NexGen recall knee replacement components have been sold within the United States.

Following reports of at least 114 Zimmer knee complications, the manufacturer issued a recall for Zimmer NexGen MIS Tibial Components, NextGen TM Tibial Trays, NexGen MIS Modular Tibial Plates and Keels. The Zimmer NexGen MIS Zimmer knee recall affected more than 68,000 knee components that were distributed throughout the United States.Several months prior to the recall,

Zimmer Knee Lawsuits Finally Consolidated

Zimmer, one of the nation’s largest orthopedic manufacturing companies, stands by the claim that the NexGen family of products—over 40 models of knee replacement systems—have one of the lowest failure rates and rates of Zimmer knee revision surgery out of all the knee revision products in the industry. A number of patients of the Zimmer NexGen recall CR-Flex device may beg to differ, however. A number of lawsuits filed across the country are pointing fingers at the orthopedics company, claiming that their devices have resulted in knee problems such as trouble standing, walking, and enjoying the same quality of life as they used to. Patients have also complained of severe knee pain and knee replacement failure. These conditions often lead to knee revision surgery.

Knee revision surgery is at the heart of a number of Zimmer lawsuits, which have been recently combined in multidistrict litigation by Zimmer knee lawyer. Knee revision surgery is a second surgery, which can be both costly and painful, that is intended to remove a faulty or defective knee replacement device and fit the patient with a new one that will hopefully cause fewer problems.