Fourth Bellwether Trial Commences in Texas Federal Pinnacle Hip MDL

DALLAS — The fourth and final bellwether trial in the Pinnacle hip implant multidistrict litigation began on Sept. 18 in Texas federal court after a federal appeals court denied DePuy Orthopedics’ efforts to cancel the trial on the basis of improper venue.

Judge Ed Kinkeade of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Dallas will preside over the consolidated trial of eight cases, all involving New York plaintiffs.

On Aug. 31, a 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals majority denied defendants’ motion for mandamus relief, in which they asserted that they never waived their right to object to …