Bair Hugger Lawsuits Move Forward, As Federal Court Approves Plaintiff Fact Sheet, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The federal multidistrict litigation overseeing hundreds of hip and knee infection lawsuits (http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/forced-air-warming/hip-and-knee-replacement-infection-lawsuit/) allegedly linked to the use of the 3M Company's Bair Hugger forced air warmer system continues to move forward in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. According to a Pretrial Order dated September 27^th, the Court has approved a Plaintiff Fact Sheet, as well as protocols governing its use. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2666)

The Fact Sheet is to be used by all claimants with cases pending in the litigation, as well as any who file lawsuits or have cases transferred to the District of Minnesota in the future. Among other things, the Order stipulates that plaintiffs with a currently pending case serve a completed Fact Sheet on the Defendants within 90 days of the date of the Order. New claimants or those whose cases are transferred to the litigation in the future must do so no later than 90 days after the filing of their complaint/short-form complaint, or completed transfer, whichever is later.

"A Plaintiff Fact Sheet serves as a means of streamlining discovery in large, complex proceedings like the federal Bair Hugger litigation.  Use of this document will allow the cases included in this proceeding to move forward in a more efficient manner," says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is offering free, no-obligation legal review to hip and knee replacement patients who allegedly developed post-operative deep joint infections following hip or knee implant surgery that involved the use of the Bair Hugger forced air warming system.

The Bair Hugger Litigation

The Bair Hugger surgical warming system was brought to market by Arizant Healthcare, Inc. (now a subsidiary of the 3M Company) in 1987, and is used by thousands of U.S. hospitals to help patients maintain an optimal body temperature while under anesthesia. The apparatus consists of a portable heater that is connected to a single-use, inflatable blanket via a flexible plastic hose. The heater draws in and warms ambient air, which is then delivered to the Bair Hugger blanket.

Court documents indicate that nearly 700 Bair Hugger lawsuits have been filed in the District of Minnesota on behalf of hip and knee replacement patients who developed dangerous post-operative joint infections allegedly related to the use of the forced air warming system. Plaintiffs assert that the apparatus suffers from a design defect that may cause the surgical site to come into contact with bacteria and other contaminants from the operating room floor. They further charge that the 3M Company and  Arizant Healthcare have known of this problem for years, yet failed to make design corrections or issue any warnings to the medical community.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is actively filing Bair Hugger lawsuits in the federal multidistrict litigation. To learn more about filing your own case, please visit the Firm's website, or contact Bernstein Liebhard LLP directly by calling 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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Contact Information:
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
info (at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com
http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/
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