Manufacturing Defect Claim to Proceed in Utah Federal Wright Medical Hip Case

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah federal judge has refused to dismiss a manufacturing defect claim asserted against Wright Medical Technology Inc. in connection with its hip replacement system, ruling that the plaintiff sufficiently identified the allegedly defective components.

In a March 5 order, Judge David Nuffer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah said the plaintiff’s claim that the metal acetabular cup and metal ball head he received differed from the manufacturer’s specifications is specific enough to survive a motion to dismiss.

Travis Crowther underwent hip replacement surgery in July 2007, in which Wright Medical prosthetic …