As previously reported, in May 2011, all federal cases involving DePuy Pinnacle were transferred to the Northern District of Texas and received Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) status. The Honorable Judge Ed Kinkeade was appointed to manage all federal DePuy Pinnacle cases after the Judicial Panel on MDL consolidated the cases for discovery and pre-trial motions. Following all pre-trial discovery and motions, a trial schedule will be set for the chosen bellwether cases. According to recent reports, approximately 57 federally filed DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits have been consolidated in the Northern District of Texas.

Just recently, to make the discovery process proceed more smoothly, Judge Kinkeade appointed a Special Discovery Master to oversee all discovery issues as a way to expedite the cases so that a trial schedule may be set as soon as possible.

Furthermore, all New Jersey state cases in the DePuy Pinnacle litigation are being actively managed by the Honorable Brian R. Martinotti in Bergen County, New Jersey. Judge Martinotti also currently handles the New Jersey state DePuy ASR cases.

If you have had a hip replacement, which used the DePuy ASR or Pinnacle devices, you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort Attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any claims that you might have against the DePuy manufactures.