Pinnacle Hip Trial is Underway; J&J Allegedly Knew of Poisoning Concern in 2001

The first of about 6,000 Pinnacle metal hip poisoning trials is underway, and plaintiff’s lawyer Mark Lanier is producing e-mail evidence designed to show Johnson & Johnson knew of the concern as early as 2001.  Plaintiff claims that the Pinnacle hip’s design is flawed:  the metal-on-metal version of the artificial hip produces debris in the body that can cause metal poisoning.  Johnson & Johnson reached a $2.5B settlement last year on another line of its artificial hips known as ASRs.  Bloomberg has the story (via Conk/Torts Today).