Six recent lawsuits involving spine and orthopedics:
Aetna allegedly violated its duties under state law and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by suddenly refusing to cover customized total knee implants, according to a lawsuit filed May 8 in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
A federal appeals court on May 8 dismissed arguments from a former spine surgeon sentenced to life in prison for the death of a woman who overdosed on counterfeit oxycodone pills.
Johnson & Johnson settled a September 2019 lawsuit alleging that it unlawfully marketed its surgical mesh devices and hip replacement systems.
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 1 refused to hear an appeal by Pittsburgh-based UPMC in a whistleblower lawsuit against the health system and 13 neurosurgeons.
Warren, Ohio-based Trumbull Memorial Hospital was not out of line for terminating the staff privileges of Michael Jurenovich, DO, an orthopedic surgeon who did not notify the hospital that he'd settled a federal Medicare fraud suit, an Ohio appeals court ruled April 27. The decision affirmed an earlier trial court ruling.
A Pennsylvania appellate court said a $10 million award to a family who sued Tampa, Fla.-based Laser Spine Institute alleging wrongful death was excessive in a 2-1 panel ruling.