Calif. Has Personal Jurisdiction Over DePuy, J&J in ASR Hip Action, State Judge Rules

SAN FRANCISCO — California courts have personal jurisdiction over DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in an ASR hip implant action because they collaborated extensively with two California residents in the design of the metal-on-metal device, which “is a focal point of the lawsuit,” a state judge has ruled.

On Nov. 1, Judge Mary E. Wiss of the San Francisco County Superior Court said the plaintiffs provided ample evidence showing that the two California residents, defendants Thomas P. Schmalzried M.D. and Dr. Thomas P. Vail, were the “lead surgeon designers” of the ASR device. As such, the claims “arise …