Court Nixes $151 Million Hip Implant Verdict Against J&J

Johnson & Johnson persuaded an appeals court to throw out a $151 million award over its Pinnacle artificial hips in a ruling that will affect thousands of lawsuits over the devices.

A judge’s error in allowing hip recipients’ lawyers to use “highly prejudicial” evidence about bribes paid by officials of J&J units to get overseas doctors to install the devices in their case mandated the 2016 jury verdict’s reversal, the New Orleans-based appeals court said Wednesday.

The five hip patients can seek a new trial of their claims, the court said in the 57-page ruling. Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said Wednesday he’s ready to try the case again immediately. “I think we’ll get more money the next time around,” he said.