Biomet Loses In Two Separate M2a Magnum Hip Implant Trials

Biomet Loses In Two Separate M2a Magnum Hip Implant Trials

Introduction

On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa entered a judgment of $3.55 million verdict in favor of an Iowa woman over claims alleging that Biomet’s metal-on-metal M2a Magnum hip implant system was defectively designed.

According to the lawsuit filed, the plaintiff from Fort Dodge, Iowa, had her left hip replaced with Biomet M2a Magnum in July 2007. The plaintiff started experiencing pain as the hip loosened over time, and the level of chromium in her body also increased. The plaintiff underwent revision surgery in June 2012.

The trial started on November 09 with eight jurors, out of which two were dismissed due to COVID-19-related problems. Six jurors gave the final verdict, which was signed on Friday and made public on Monday.

The federal jury in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, awarded $1.05 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages to the plaintiff and her husband. The compensatory damages included $500,000 for past physical and mental pain and suffering, $250,000 for future pain and suffering, $100,000 for past loss of function of body and mind, and $200,000 for future loss of function.

The case is considered "virtually identical" to a trial that concluded in Missouri, where the state's federal jury awarded $21 million to a plaintiff and her husband and refused to impose punitive damages against Biomet Inc.

Judge Stephen R. Clark of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri signed the jury's judgment on Monday, which follows Biomet Inc.'s failed attempt for mistrial in the punitive damages phase of the M2a Magnum hip implant lawsuit, which the manufacturer had pushed for reconsideration after one juror contracted COVID-19.

According to the order, which was made public on Tuesday, the verdict includes $20 million to the plaintiff, plus post-judgment interest and costs of the action, and $1 million to her husband, plus post-judgment interests and costs of the action.