Md. Federal Judge Appoints Plaintiffs’ Settlement Counsel in Birmingham Hip MDL

BALTIMORE — The judge overseeing the Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing multidistrict litigation docket has appointed plaintiffs’ settlement counsel “in the interest of judicial economy” to engage in general settlement discussions with defense counsel.

In a July 20 case management order, Chief Judge Catherine C. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland appointed Ben W. Gordon Jr. of Levin Papantonio in Pensacola, Fla., and Michael P. McGartland of McGartland Law Firm in Fort Worth, Texas, upon recommendation of the plaintiffs’ steering committee.

“Notwithstanding that the parties do not believe settlement discussions would be fruitful at …