Pain Pump Lawsuit Update from Chaffin Luhana LLP

On March 25, 2010 a hearing session of the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) is scheduled to hear additional arguments regarding the centralization of shoulder pain pump lawsuits. Chaffin Luhana, a boutique plaintiff law firm in New York, announces that the decision of the JPML at the end of this month comes amidst their active investigations of pain pump lawsuits.

The JPML has previously heard arguments for the centralization of shoulder pain pump cases filed across the nation.  On August 28, 2008, the panel of federal judges denied plaintiffs’ request for pre-trial litigation consolidation of cases, citing the number of different manufacturers of pain pumps and different medications used in the devices as an inconvenience to the parties and witnesses.  The panel maintained creation of a multi-district litigation (MDL) would be a hindrance to the just and efficient conduct of the litigation at that time. In August of 2008 there were only 30 cases filed in 8 federal districts. According to the Notice of Hearing Session issued by the JPML on February 25, 2010, there are now currently over 100 cases filed in over 20 different federal districts. 

Shoulder pain pumps are medical devices which administer pain medication to the shoulder, most often after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.  Arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder is typically a minimally invasive procedure; however the post-surgical discomfort can last for a few days. With the implantation of an intra-articular shoulder pain pump, doctors attempt to diffuse the pain at the source by delivering medication directly to the surgical site.

If the catheter of the pain pump is placed in the joint space, the pain medication may rapidly deteriorate the shoulder joint’s cartilage, resulting in a condition known as postarthoscopic glenohuneral chondrolysis, or PAGCL.  According to a study published in the October 2007 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine, almost 63 percent of patients who use intra-articular shoulder pain pumps are at risk of developing PAGCL. Symptoms of PAGCL include an increased pain in the shoulder, a clicking, popping or grinding effect in the shoulder joint and a decreased range of motion. These symptoms may occur as soon a few months after surgery, and therefore can be misread as a slow recovery. 

Chaffin Luhana’s shoulder pain pump lawyers advocate the creation of an MDL, as its establishment would provide consistency and efficiency across all cases.  The MDL may also provide the possibility of “tolling” statues of limitations for potential cases where victims may currently be unaware that pain pumps have caused their injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered side effects subsequent to the implantation of an intra-articular pain pump, such as a Stryker, On-Q or I-Flow pain pump, you may be entitled to compensation. The shoulder pain pump lawyers at Chaffin Luhana LLP are currently investigating cases where pain pumps have lead to PAGL or cartilage loss.

Chaffin Luhana – Doing Good by Doing Right

Chaffin Luhana is a boutique plaintiffs-only law firm with a national trial practice focused on representing plaintiffs in mass tort, securities, consumer fraud and whistleblower cases in federal and state courts across the country.  The founding partners, Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana, have an established record of success and leadership in the national plaintiffs’ bar. Individually, and along with co-counsel, Mr. Chaffin and Ms. Luhana have been involved in recovering over $900 million for injured consumers and shareholders.

Among working with clients injured by shoulder pain pumps, the attorneys of Chaffin Luhana currently represent consumers injured by the zinc in popular denture creams such as Fixodent and Poligrip. Poligrip’s manufacturers recently announced they would cease manufacture of the product containing zinc, due to the risk of severe side effects including nerve damage and neuropathy. If you or a loved one has suffered denture cream side effects, contact us immediately for a confidential case evaluation.