Plaintiffs Oppose Howmedica’s Efforts to Retain V40 Implanting Surgeons as Experts

BOSTON — Plaintiffs in the Stryker LFIT V40 multidistrict litigation want to bar Howmedica Osteonics Inc. from retaining plaintiffs’ treating doctors as consulting or testifying experts, arguing “plaintiffs have a right to safeguard their patient-doctor relationships.”

In a May 24 motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, plaintiffs further argue that such an order would prevent conflicts of interest posed by a consulting relationship with HOC, whose interests are contrary to the doctors’ patients.

HOC asked the court to allow it to communicate ex parte with plaintiffs’ treating doctors for the limited purpose of …