Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits Allege The Forced-Air Warming Blankets Put Patients At Risk For Serious Infections During Knee and Hip Surgery
The federal judge managing Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuits will create a pool of potential cases for bellwether trials. 150 of the 900 warming blanket lawsuits already filed in an MDL in Minnesota will be randomly selected by December 23. The Bair Hugger lawsuits allege the forced-air warming blanket, manufactured by 3M Company and its Arizant Healthcare subsidiary, causes sepsis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and other potentially deadly infections when used during hip or knee replacement surgery. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Devices Products Liability Litigation – Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits MDL No. 2666)
“We are pleased to see that preparations are being made for bellwether trials that will represent the hundreds of pending Bair Hugger complaints,” says Dr. François Blaudeau, founder of Southern Med Law.
Dr. Blaudeau and the attorneys at Southern Med Law offer no obligation Bair Hugger lawsuit legal evaluations to men and women who have experienced injuries from the Bair Hugger forced-air warming blanket. If you believe you have suffered an infection from a Bair Hugger warming blanket, please contact one of the firm’s attorneys for a free Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuit legal consultation by calling 205-547-5525 or visit www.southernmedlaw.com and fill out the online contact form.
Of the 150 randomly selected Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits, attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants are to choose 16 to 18 cases by January 20, according to a pretrial order issued on November 16 by U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen. Each side must also select one to two Bair Hugger cases from Ramsey County, Minnesota based on an agreement the federal court has with the Minnesota state court. After limited case-specific discovery between January 21 and March 1, the parties will jointly select eight cases and present them to the court by February 10. Judge Ericksen will select cases to be included in the final bellwether trial pool by March 1. The bellwether trials are expected to begin in November 2017. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Devices Products Liability Litigation – Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuit MDL No. 2666)
Bair Hugger forced-air warming blankets keep patients warm during joint replacement surgeries. 3M’s promotional material says that Bair Hugger’s warming system draws in the filtered air of the operating room, passes it through an internal filter and warms the air to a selected temperature. The warmed air flows to a single-use Bair Hugger blanket through an enclosed hose, and then is gently dispersed across the surface of a patient’s skin. 3M maintains that its Bair Hugger system is safe and does not cause infection in patients.
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Court documents indicate that Bair Hugger complaints were consolidated in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota in December 2015 for coordinated pretrial proceedings. The lawsuits commonly allege that 3M and Arizant failed to warn that their forced-air warming blanket has a design defect because it lifts bacteria and contaminated particles from the operating room floor and from below the operating table and into the sterile surgical site. As a result, patients undergoing joint replacement surgery are at risk of prosthetic joint infections because of contaminated air blowing into the surgical site. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Devices Products Liability Litigation – Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuit MDL No. 2666)
About Southern Med Law And Filing A Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuit
Southern Med Law is an experienced law firm providing legal representation to the men and women across the country who have been victims of negligent personal injuries, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs, faulty medical devices and defective products. Led by Dr. François Blaudeau, an attorney and a practicing obstetrician/ gynecologist, the legal staff at Southern Med Law possesses a deep understanding of the complex medical and legal questions at issue in all manner of product liability and personal injury claims. They’re not afraid to take on the nation’s largest corporations in their pursuit of justice, and are committed to ensuring that all victims have access to the type of aggressive legal advocacy that assures success.
Contact:
Southern Med Law
François M. Blaudeau, MD JD FACHE FCLM Esquire
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Phone: 205-547-5525
Fax: 205-547-5526
francois@sml-legal.i-mlaw.com
Southern Med Law Is A Dedicated And Experienced Law Firm Providing Legal Support To People Who Were Injured By Dangerous Drugs, Medical Devices and Dangerous Products. Contact Us Today To Know Your Rights!
