If you have an Optetrak knee replacement or another implant manufactured by the Florida-based Exactech medical device company, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

According to CBS News, at least 1,100 patients have filed suit against the company since it began recalling knee, hip, and ankle implants in 2021. Many argue their joint replacements have worn out early, and that they must undertake expensive and risky surgery to correct the issues.

The litigation has already unearthed damning evidence. In a letter Exactech sent surgeons in 2022, it admitted to a problem that could have caused a staggering 140,000 knee implants to fail prematurely.

According to court filings and a multiple whistleblower lawsuits, Exactech appears to have downplayed or concealed that evidence from federal regulators. Government records show the company failed or delayed reports to MAUDE, a public database run by the U.S Food and Drug Agency (FDA) for the purpose of tracking medical device failures.

Medical manufacturers must advise the FDA within 30 days when they learn a device caused or contributed to an injury or death. But court and government records show Exactech sometime took years to make those reports, if it made them at all.

According to one of the whistleblower lawsuits against Exactech, the defects of the Optetrak system were an “open secret” inside the company. Surgeons regularly complained that the product loosened prematurely, causing patients pain.

One of those doctors was Christopher Hutchins, a Connecticut-based orthopedic surgeon. He met with Exactech’s co-founder, who admitted there was a problem with the device.

“I was somewhat struck that if they knew there was a problem why it wasn’t being addressed and why the product wasn’t being pulled from the market,” Hutchins said. “There was no disclosure or transparency.”

In court filings, Exactech has denied that Optetrak has any defects. The company instead blames the problems on surgeons, saying they had failed to install the knee implants correctly.

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured by a Defective Joint Implant?

If you or a loved one has been injured by Exactech’s Optetrak Knee Replacement or by any other type of joint implant, contact the Roach Law Firm’s defective medical device lawyers today.

Legal action by a product liability lawyer experienced with medical device injuries is often necessary before a dangerous device is pulled from the market—and the Roach Law Firm’s lawyers will investigate your claim and help you gather all evidence necessary to move your case forward.

Our Record Speaks for Itself

The Roach Law Firm’s defective medical device lawyers have won judgments and reached settlements totaling billions of dollars over the years, for clients just like you. They have participated in the following landmark cases:

  • $730 Million Truck Accident Verdict
    In 2021, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach won $730 million in a case arising from a Texas truck accident, the fourth-largest jury verdict in the United States and third-largest in Texas that year. The case was filed by the family of East Texas resident Toni Combest, a 73-year-old great-grandmother who was killed in a collision with an oversize-cargo truck hauling a propeller for a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine.
  • Lone Star Steel Litigation
    Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach represented thousands of steel workers at the Lone Star Steel Mill when they began to suffer from breathing problems and cancer. Roach successfully prosecuted the Lone Star Steel Litigation against some of the most skilled and expensive lawyers in the country for over a decade, ultimately winning $90 million for the plaintiffs.
  • Red River Army Depot Litigation
    When workers at the Red River Army Depot in Northeast Texas began to suffer from diseases caused by exposure to rubber products in the workplace, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach fought for their rights and recovered $47 million on their behalf.
  • The State of Texas Tobacco Litigation
    In 1995, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach and his former law firm were among a group selected by the State of Texas to prosecute the state’s claims against the tobacco industry. Roach and his team members won $17 billion for the state, setting a record for the largest settlement of a single legal case in U.S. history.

No Fees Unless You Win

The Roach Law Firm operates on a contingency basis, meaning we are paid only if we win your case. We charge no upfront fees for filing your defective medical device lawsuit, and we will not bill you for any expenses while it is pending.

Next Steps

If you or one of your loved ones have suffered a serious injury or death resulting from an Optetrak knee replacement or another defective medical device, call us at (903) 645-7333 or fill out the electronic form on this page. One of our defective medical device lawyers will be in touch with you as soon as possible.