New complaints keep rolling in against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics over its ASR metal-on-metal hip implants.

More than 350 cases were filed in an Ohio court this month alone, all of them directly tied to a case undergoing pre-trial proceedings in the Northern District of Ohio.

Initially consolidated in December 2010, the Ohio trial allows patients to directly join the litigation under Judge David Katz rather than file in their own districts and await a transfer, "In order to eliminate delays associated with transfer of cases in or removed to other federal district courts to this Court, and to promote judicial efficiency," according to the case management order.

A database search revealed nearly 700 filings in the last two months, and more than 1,700 since the direct filing option was opened in January.

Another set of actions filed against DePuy were consolidated in Texas in May.

JNJ recently made the unusual move of hiring an outside firm to manage the high-profile recall, a decision that could limit its financial exposure – and limit patients’ access to replacement devices.

Read more medical device legal news from MassDevice.com

Shareholder suit against Hansen thrown out

Hansen Medical Inc. (NSDQ:HNSN) lodged a victory against a shareholder suit when a California judge ruled that complaints that the medical robotics maker artificially inflated its revenues were too vague, Law360.com reported (paid).

Argentum pays $1 million for filing a patent lawsuit in bad faith

Argentum Medical LLC must pay $1 million in legal fees after a Pennsylvania judge ruled that a patent lawsuit brought against Noble Biomaterials Inc. was filed in bad faith, Law360.com reported.

Noble previously won a $3.3 million verdict in the patent infringement case when the U.S. District Court for Middle Pennsylvania dismissed Argentum’s complaint that Noble’s wound dressings violated its exclusive patents.

Baxter employee break violation lawsuit gets class action

A group of nearly 300 current and former Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) employees won class action status for their lawsuit against the health care giant over complaints that it violated state meal break requirements, Law360.com reported.

3M keeps vigilant on Porton with a new blackmail suit

3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) filed a new suit against Porton Group and its CEO Harvey Boulter on allegations that they launched a campaign of "blackmail" and "extortion" to get a $30 million payment, Bloomberg reports, Law360.com reported.

3M first filed suit in June after Porton launched its own legal attack accusing 3M of sabotaging a the BacLite technology it bought from Porton in 2007. Porton had reported 95 percent success with the device, which is used to detect dangerous bacteria. The device proved only 50 percent effective in 3M’s trials.

The attorneys for the Porton Group alleged in mid-May that 3M botched the trial by keeping the bacteria below body temperature. They added that the reason 3M sabotaged the trial was because it was developing a more expensive molecular test to detect MRSA internally and wanted it to be the first to reach the market.

Hologic employees lodge small victory in overtime action

Hologic Inc. (NSDQ:HOLX)  employees won a conditional class action certification in a lawsuit alleging the Bedford, Mass.-based company misclassified them to make them exempt from overtime pay, Law360.com reported.

Theranos whistleblower Tyler Shultz to participate in keynote interview at DeviceTalks Boston At DeviceTalks Boston, Tyler Shultz will give attendees an inside look at Theranos and how he was able to sound the alarm after he realized the company was falling apart. Shultz will take attendees behind the story that everyone is talking about: the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her diagnostic company, Theranos. Join Shultz and 1,000+ medical device professionals at the 8th annual DeviceTalks Boston. REGISTER NOW