Dianne Willmore, who passed from mesothelioma in 2009, won a landmark £240,000 case, holding Knowsley Borough Council liable for her asbestos exposure during school. Her case prompted legal and financial ramifications for local authorities nationwide, leading to increased awareness and changes in asbestos-related negligence proceedings.
Shane Flynn, 35, owner of a Mullingar clinic, was convicted of sexual assault after inappropriately touching a client seeking back pain relief. The investigation also revealed 18 hours of footage showing Flynn secretly filming 35 women during massages, raising further concerns about his conduct and abuse of trust within his practice.
Naveed Rana, a Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to five and a half years for the assault of an 18-year-old woman after a night out. The court heard how Rana took advantage of the victim’s trust, driving erratically and assaulting her before being apprehended due to her quick actions in reporting the incident to Gardaí.
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We work with several clients who have experienced problems with their DePuy Hip Implants. We’d like to encourage you to contact our medical negligence solicitors if you’re having similar issues. Our team is here to help you navigate the legal complexities and understand your options for seeking compensation. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today at 1800-844-104 or complete our online enquiry form. Please be assured that your query will be dealt with in total confidence.
In Ireland, in 2015, High Court Judge Mr. Justice Kevin Cross urged all those involved in legal actions over defective DePuy hip implants to find “innovative ways” to resolve them.
At the time there were 73 cases pending hearing out of an estimated 1,000 cases in the Irish legal system and the concerns were that such cases would take up a significant portion of the Courts time if each were to be resolved individually at Trial.
In response to this DePuy set up an Alternative Dispute Resolution process which involved evaluations being made by independent evaluators. If either DePuy or the Claimant rejects the evaluation within 45 days, the Claimant may continue with their existing proceedings through the Courts.
At Coleman Legal LLP, we have been instructed by a multitude of claimants who have had faulty or defective implants inserted and we have achieved significant settlements on behalf of our clients. As a result, we are alive to the complicated and important factors that must be considered in each case in the early course. Our experience in this area means that we understand the catastrophic effects such defects can have on the operation of the implant and the potential harmful domino effect they can have on people’s lives.
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., (Depuy Hip Implant) a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson, announced in August 2010 that it was recalling two specific hip replacement implant products, having already sold some 95,000 units worldwide. The recall was issued after research released by the National Joint Registry (NJR) found high rates of hip replacement failure for the ASR XL Acetabular and ASR Hip Resurfacing systems: 12% for ASR Hip Resurfacing System and 13% for ASR XL Acetabular System. These compare to revision rates of between 3 and 6%, which were previously recorded.
The ASRXL and ASR Hip Implants were metal-on-metal components and since their arrival on the orthopedic scene nearly 20 years ago, they were marketed as the latest advance in hip replacement and were targeted at young active patients who needed a hip that would last a whole lifetime. People who had these implants suffered early wearing and loosening of the components of the implant, resulting in soft tissue damage and increased levels of Cobalt and Chromium ion levels in their blood.
Such metal ions can damage the bone and soft tissues around the hip replacement, resulting in the following:
Multiple studies and research organisations have warned about the harmful potential of metal-on-metal hips, and uncertainty surrounds the toxicology of metal ions in the body. It is arguable that such a level of uncertainty would not be acceptable in drug regulation.
Instead of alerting regulators and patients to their concerns, companies tweaked the design of their total hip implants. In 2004, in an effort to rationalise their product range and increase usage of their implants, they shortened the trunnion (or taper)—the part of the stem that inserts into the head—to allow a few degrees greater motion and added grooves so surgeons could use them with both ceramic and metal heads.
But these changes, coupled with bigger and bigger heads, had unforeseen consequences; namely, increased wear, high levels of metal ions in the tissues and blood, and higher rates of joint failure. Research shows that even a small change in design can have a substantial effect on long-term outcomes. While this was a worldwide recall, about 3,300 Irish patients received these implants in Ireland across 16 public and 14 private hospital sites nationwide since 2003.
We act on behalf of multiple clients who have encountered problems related to their DePuy Hip Implants. If you are facing similar challenges, we would be pleased to offer our support and guidance through one of our medical negligence solicitors.
Please contact us at 1800-844-104 or by emailing [email protected] to discuss your situation in detail. Our team is committed to helping you understand the legal options available to you and assisting you in seeking appropriate compensation. We understand your case and are dedicated to providing you with the professional assistance you need.
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P: 1800-844-104
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