Slack & Davis files suit against Smith & Nephew

Slack & Davis has filed suit on behalf of a New Braunfels, Texas, couple against Smith & Nephew, Inc., a global medical products concern with U.S. headquarters in Memphis, Tenn.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, alleging defects in the implant made by Smith & Nephew.

“This lawsuit arose from defects related to the knee implants that Smith & Nephew recalled in September 2003, after the ‘cementless’ versions of its Oxinium Genesis II and Profix II implants in the United States failed to bond properly, resulting in a high failure rate,” said Donna J. Bowen, who represents the New Braunfels couple in their claim.

“Patients who received the defective knees may require revision surgery and will face added risks of infection, further joint and muscular damage, and painful rehabilitation,” Bowen said.

“Our firm has received a number of calls from all over the country, which indicates the problem may be widespread. I anticipate the number of reported failures will climb as time goes on,” said Mike Slack.

Fidel Rodriguez of Rodriguez & Ketterman of San Antonio is serving as joint counsel on this case.

Both Slack and Bowen have extensive experience in cases involving defective orthopedic implants. In 2002-2003, the two successfully represented over 60 clients in claims related to defective Sulzer Orthopedics hip and knee implants.