5th Cir. Allows DePuy to View, Obtain Sealed Documents in Appeal of Pinnacle Hip Verdict

NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has granted DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.’s unopposed motion to view and obtain sealed documents in plaintiffs’ appeal of a $502 million Pinnacle Hip Implant verdict.

The appellate court issued the order on Aug. 18, explaining that counsel for DePuy and Johnson & Johnson may obtain the sealed materials from the District Court, exclusive of any document that was filed under seal and ex parte.

The appeal was filed by the plaintiffs, whose $1 billion jury award was halved by the MDL judge overseeing the proceedings. Judge Ed Kinkeade, citing the …