J&J Says Parent-Subsidiary Relationship Does Not Give Rise to Pinnacle Hip Claims

DALLAS — DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, has moved for judgment as a matter of law on product liability claims in the 4th bellwether Pinnacle Ultamet hip trial, arguing plaintiffs have not presented evidence that J&J either manufactured or distributed the device.

In a Nov. 13 motion filed before Judge Ed Kinkeade of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Dallas, J&J contends the evidence shows a regular parent-subsidiary relationship between J&J and DePuy of the type that cannot give rise to product liability claims.

For example, plaintiffs introduced evidence that J&J helped DePuy in …