On June 1, 2011, Judge Martinotti hosted a joint MDL/State Case Management Conference in Bergen County, New Jersey, along with the Honorable David A. Katz, U.S.D.J., who is presiding over the federal cases in the MDL in Ohio. As previously discussed, centralizing the state and federal cases will streamline the lawsuits, allowing the parties to avoid duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings from different judges.
Continue Reading DePuy ASR Joint Management Conference Conducted in Bergen County, New Jersey

As we previously discussed, on December 9, 2010, a Notice to the Bar was issued by Judge Glenn A. Grant, Acting Administrator of the Courts, advising that an application had been made, pursuant to Directive #7-09, “Revised Mass Tort Guidelines,” requesting designation of all New Jersey state-court litigation involving DePuy ASR™ hip implants as a mass tort and assignment for centralized management in Middlesex County. The federal cases have already been consolidated in the Northern District Court of Ohio.
Continue Reading New Jersey State Cases Centralized in Bergen County

As we have previously reported, in November, 2010, the FDA finally announced that it was pulling off the U.S. market the prescription painkillers, Darvon and Darvocet, which combines Darvon with the aspirin substitute acetaminophen, because of scientific evidence the drugs can damage the heart, even at recommended doses, or cause fatal cardiac abnormalities. Studies have shown that the ingredients contained in Darvocet and Darvon have been linked to various forms of severe side-effects. Reportedly, these side-effects include: heart arrhythmia, heart attack, suicide, overdose and even death.
Continue Reading Still Waiting on MDL Decision in Darvocet Cases

As we have discussed in previous posts, studies have shown that the ingredients contained in the birth control product NuvaRing® have been linked to various forms of severe side-effects including: heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (also known as DVT or blood clots), internal organ damage, myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.
Continue Reading Discovery For The Phase 1 Bellwether NuvaRing® Cases Have Been Scheduled

On December 9, 2010, a Notice to the Bar was issued by Judge Glenn A. Grant, Acting Administrator of the Courts, advising that an application had been made, pursuant to Directive #7-09, “Revised Mass Tort Guidelines,” requesting designation of all New Jersey state-court litigation involving DePuy ASR™ hip implants as a mass tort and assignment for centralized management in Middlesex County.
Continue Reading Mass Tort Application in DePuy Orthopedic, Inc. Hip Recall Lawsuits

As we have previously reported, DePuy Orthopedic, Inc., a subdivision of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., finally issued a recall in August 2010 for the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System after data suggested that about one out of every eight may fail within only five years.
Continue Reading Lawsuits Filed In Response to DePuy Orthopedic, Inc. Hip Recall

After receiving Mass Tort designation on February 9, 2010, in the New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County, Judge Martinotti issued an Initial Order for Case Management on February 18, 2010. The Case Management Order (CMO) is the basis for how pending and future cases are managed leading up to trial.
Continue Reading YAZ®, Yasmin® and Ocella® – Case Management Order

As we have discussed in previous posts, studies have shown that the ingredients contained in the birth control products YAZ®, Yasmin® and Ocella® have been linked to various forms of severe side-effects. Reportedly, these side-effects include: heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (also known as DVT or blood clots), internal organ damage (including gallbladder damage), myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.
Continue Reading New Jersey State Supreme Court Grants Mass Tort Designation to YAZ®, Yasmin® and Ocella® Cases