Seeger Salvas Warns DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Victims that Recorded Phone Calls Could be Used Against Them

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 06, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- After recalling 93,000 hip implants and admitting a shocking 13 percent failure rate, Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Orthopaedics is now blaming victims of the defective hip implants, arguing that they were careless and caused their own injuries. At the same time, an insurance adjuster hired by DePuy may be recording phone calls with patients injured by the defective hip, and DePuy may attempt to use these recordings against the victims. Seeger Salvas LLP, a law firm that represents victims of DePuy's hip replacement recall, warns patients to be aware that DePuy may record their phone calls and it may try to use these recordings to shift blame for the injuries caused by the defective hip implant.

In letters mailed to patients whose hips have been recalled, DePuy instructs patients to call its recall victims' "help line." In reality, this "help line" is run by Broadspire, an insurance adjuster that advertises itself for its ability to "reduce the costs associated with claims." Many patients may not realize that when they call DePuy's "help line," DePuy and its insurance adjuster may be recording the conversation. Broadspire claims that these recordings are for "quality assurance purposes," but it may have a more devious motive.

If DePuy's recent court filings are any indication, it may try to use these recordings to blame innocent victims for the injuries caused by DePuy's hip implant recall. In documents recently filed with the California Superior Court, DePuy argues that victims whose hip implant failed and had to be surgically replaced "were negligent, careless, and at fault and conducted themselves so as to contribute substantially to their alleged injuries and damages."

Brian Devine, a former executive at a global manufacturer of hip implants who now represents victims of DePuy's hip replacement recall, said "Johnson & Johnson and DePuy have an army of defense lawyers and insurance adjusters who are protecting their interests. With DePuy now attempting to blame innocent victims, patients who have one of DePuy's defective hip implants should consider whether they should have an attorney who protects their interests."

ABOUT US

Brian Devine, a partner at Seeger Salvas LLP, is the former Assistant General Counsel of Sulzer Medica, a global manufacturer of hip implants. He now uses his years of experience inside the orthopedics industry to represent victims of DePuy's hip replacement recall.

Contact: Brian Devine (415) 981-9260
Website: http://www.orthopediclaw.com

SOURCE: Seeger Salvas LLP

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