Zimmer NexGen Knee Class Action Lawsuit-Like Consolidation Formed in Federal Court

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted August 11, 2011

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According to an order issued this week by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, any individuals who file a Zimmer NexGen knee replacement lawsuit in federal district court will have their case consolidated as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation. Although the cases will be managed similar to how a Zimmer NexGen class action lawsuit would be handled during pretrial proceedings, each claim will continue to remain an individual lawsuit.

The Zimmer NexGen knee replacement lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing a potential product liability claim as a result of problems caused by design defects associated with certain Zimmer artificial knee components.

It is expected that hundreds of lawsuits will eventually be filed over Zimmer NexGen knee replacement problems, which involve early failure of the artificial knee and often result in the need for additional revision surgery.

According to an order issued August 8, lawsuits filed in any federal district court throughout the United States will be centralized before Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for pretrial proceedings, including discovery and early bellwether trials to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to evidence that will be introduced in many cases.

The multidistrict litigation process, more commonly referred to as the Zimmer NexGen MDL, is often confused with a class action lawsuit against Zimmer. While the MDL and a Zimmer NexGen knee class action lawsuit have many similarities during pretrial proceedings, each claim remains an individual lawsuit, where the plaintiff must establish that their injuries were caused by problems with the Zimmer knee design and each claim will be decided individually be a jury.

Unlike a class action lawsuit, Zimmer NexGen knee injury claims involve unique damages for each claimant, since the problems will impact each person in a different way. Therefore, the outcome of the litigation can not be determined through the trial of a class-representative, as would be done in a class action suit.

While the cases do remain individual lawsuits, the pretrial proceedings will be consolidated to reduce the risk of inconsistent rulings from different judges, avoid duplicative discovery and serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses. However, if Zimmer NexGen knee replacement settlements are not reached during the MDL process, each claim would be remanded back to the federal district court where it was originally filed for trial.

ZIMMER NEXGEN CLASS ACTION ATTORNEYS

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review and evaluate new lawsuits for individuals who have suffered problems with a knee replacement that may have involved Zimmer NexGen components. Claims are being evaluated for individuals who have experienced:

  • Knee Pain
  • Difficulty Standing or Walking
  • Loosening of Zimmer Replacement Knee Parts
  • Knee Replacement Failure
  • Revision Surgery for a Zimmer Knee

All suits are being pursued on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are never any fees for our Zimmer NexGen class action attorneys to represent you until a recovery is obtained. To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

5 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • robin says:

    My mother went through having both knees replaced twice.

    Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:38 am

  • kathy says:

    iI had a Zimmer Nex Gen knee replacement in Nov. 2008. After dealing with a tremendous amount of pain they did a bone scan and found that it was either infected or had loose screws. My docter has decided I will have to have a knee revision done

    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 12:50 pm

  • Margarita says:

    I need advise in how to be part of the class action lawsuit. I had a knee replacement in March 11, 1998 and after six months I began having difficulties standing or walking, Pain came back much worse than before, and infection also was developed. Went back to the doctor and after a second opinion a knee revision was done. The knee was almost fine, I did have my moments of pain ,inflamation, and days of neither walk or stand right. On August 2012 I was submitted again to a total revision and this time was worse due that a serious infection was found to the point that I was one month in bed without the replacement until the infections was removed from my knee. A month later another surgery was performed to implant the knew replacement. Four time my left knee has to be open and I believe everything began with my firs knee replacement in Chicago.

    Posted on December 18, 2013 at 6:20 pm

  • Mike says:

    I had a total knee replacement on December 31, 2010 with the Zimmer Next Gen flex, 9 months later, had to have revision due to tremendous pain , had a very hard time walking. Then in Sept, 2013 had to have another total knee replacement . then I had 2 manipulation back to back because of the scar tissue. as of this day I still have problems walking at times. I just want my knee back. but that’s not going to happen.

    Posted on June 16, 2014 at 12:33 pm

  • gary says:

    I have a left knee total knee replacement,and both left and right shoulder total replacements the left had to have a revision and the righ shoulder is scheduled to have a revision aswell. the left knee has to be redone aswell . please help. gary discolo

    Posted on April 20, 2016 at 12:31 pm

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