According to a joint status report, progress continues with the recent Biomet settlement. The September 17 update indicates that Biomet lawsuits have been categorized into two separate groups: Group 1 consists of plaintiffs who completed the requirements for discovery by December 31, 2013, and the second group includes plaintiffs who were able to complete the required fact sheets between January 1, 2014 and June 13, 2014. While the latter date was initially the cut-off, Biomet has stated that it will continue to review fact sheets submitted after June 13, 2014.
Biomet Settlement Continues
According to court documents, more than 2,400 Biomet lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation in federal court in the Northern District of Indiana, and approximately 750 settlement-eligible cases had been filed by December 2013. According to plaintiffs, the company’s M2a Magnum and M2a 38 metal-on-metal hip replacement devices were prone to early device failure, which resulted in many patients requiring costly and often painful revision procedures to correct the damage allegedly caused by the devices.
The Biomet settlement was first reached in February 2014, and experts estimate that the settlement could cost the manufacturer more than $100 million. According to the terms of the Biomet settlement, the device maker placed $50 million in an escrow account. Court documents indicate that plaintiffs are entitled to receive a base award of $200,000, but the award may increase depending on several factors such as when the device was sold, the implant model, and the amount of time between the initial implantation procedure and the revision surgery.
Additionally, Biomet has stated that individuals who have not yet required revision procedures but eventually undergo them in the future will also have the opportunity to be compensated for any injuries that they may sustain due to the all-metal hip implants.
Although a settlement has been reached in the federal MDL, this does not necessarily bar new plaintiffs from pursuing claims against the manufacturer. It is important to seek legal counsel if you believe that you have a case, regardless of the recent Biomet settlement news, as you may still be entitled to recover damages in Texas for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
Contact Attorney Group for Texas Today
If you or someone you love was fitted with a Biomet all-metal hip implant and you suffered from complications, Attorney Group for Texas can help determine whether you have a case. There is no cost to receive a comprehensive evaluation, and we can put you in touch with an affiliated attorney in Texas who can answer your questions regarding the Biomet settlement and help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled. Call today to get started.
