ALLENTOWN – A Berks County man says that components installed in his body after a hip surgery failed and subsequently injured him, which caused him to file suit against the manufacturers.
Michael Lease of Reading first filed suit in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas on June 2 versus Stryker Corporation and Stryker Orthopaedics of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Stryker Sales Corporation, of Pontage, Mich.
Lease underwent a total hip arthroplasty on Oct. 5, 2015, requiring the placement of a femoral stem (Accolade II Neck Angle Hip Stem), liner, acetabular cup and femoral head (LFIT V40).
“In August 2017, the plaintiff began experiencing significant pain in his hip. Plaintiff’s pain continued to increase in severity, eventually requiring a total revision of his hip arthroplasty on Feb. 6, 2018,” the suit states.
“Plaintiff’s post-operative diagnoses was a failed right total hip arthroplasty secondary to adverse local tissue reaction metal-on-metal trunnions debris with likely asceptic loosing of the acetabular component.”
According to the complaint, the stem and head were defective, necessitating Lease to have a second surgery.
As a result of the defective LFIT V40 Femoral Head and Accolade II Neck Angle Hip Stem, plaintiff suffered serious personal injuries which include, but are not limited to significant pain and the recovery necessary from plaintiff’s second surgery, the suit says.
Lease alleges the items were sold in a defective condition, before they were installed into him.
Due to the amount in damages being sought and diversity of citizenship between the parties, the case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on June 11.
For a count of product liability, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
The plaintiff is represented by Edwin L. Stock of Roland Stock, in Reading.
The defendants are represented by Stephen J. Finley of Gibbons P.C., in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case 5:20-cv-02785
Berks County Court of Common Pleas case 19-15093
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com