Is there a LINX class action or MDL?

There is currently no federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) consolidating LINX device claims. Patients are filing individual lawsuits in courts across the country. The Anapol Weiss team is reviewing and filing individual cases now.

How do I know if my LINX device was recalled?

Your operative report or patient implant card should list your device's product code and lot number. Certain LINX devices distributed before the April 2018 recall may have been affected. The recall included multiple product families and specific lot numbers, so the product code and lot number should be checked against the FDA recall information. Anapol Weiss can help you request your records and confirm.

My LINX device was implanted years ago. Is it too late to file?

Not necessarily. Many patients don't learn their device has failed until years after implantation. Every state has a statute of limitations, and in many cases the deadline is tied to when you discovered your injury and its connection to the device. The sooner your case is reviewed, the better.

My device was removed. Do I still have a case?

Yes, you may. Many people with LINX claims have already undergone removal or replacement surgery. If possible, ask your hospital whether the removed device was retained, since it can be important evidence.

What does it cost to have my case reviewed?

Nothing. Anapol Weiss offers free, confidential consultations and handles these cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you.

LINX Lawsuit Lawyers Fighting for Patients Harmed by Recalled Devices

For people living with chronic acid reflux, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a medical device known as the LINX® Reflux Management System was marketed as a lasting alternative to daily medication. When the device works, patients may never think about it again. LINX reflux device lawsuit attorneys investigate claims involving devices that break or fail, which can leave patients experiencing difficulty swallowing, recurrent GERD symptoms, chronic chest pain, or the need to have the implant removed or replaced through additional surgery.

The Anapol Weiss team is filing cases on behalf of patients whose LINX devices failed after being implanted to treat GERD. Our cases involve devices that the manufacturer itself recalled in 2018 after identifying a manufacturing problem that could allow the device's magnetic beads to separate from the wire links holding them together.

If you or a loved one had a LINX device implanted and later needed revision surgery, removal, or replacement, or experienced a return of severe reflux, chest pain, or trouble swallowing, you may be entitled to compensation.

Anapol Weiss offers free, confidential consultations. Call 215-735-1130 or contact us online today for a free case review.

Who May Qualify for Help From LINX Reflux Device Lawsuit Attorneys?

You or a loved one may have a case if any of the following apply:

You had a LINX Reflux Management System surgically implanted to treat GERD or acid reflux
Your LINX device was implanted before the 2018 recall, or you received a recall or ‘field safety notice’ concerning your device
Imaging, an endoscopy, or your surgeon found that your LINX device was broken, "disrupted," open, or had separated
You needed a second surgery to remove, repair, or replace your LINX device
Your reflux symptoms returned or worsened after implantation, or you developed new pain in or around your esophagus
You experienced difficulty swallowing, chest pain, erosion of the esophagus, or device migration after your LINX surgery

Not sure which device you have? Your implant's product code and lot number are typically listed in your operative report or on a patient implant card. The LINX lawsuit lawyers at Anapol Weiss can help you obtain these records and determine whether your device was part of the recall.

How LINX Lawsuit Lawyers Can Help

Filing a lawsuit against a medical device manufacturer can help you recover what you've lost and hold companies accountable when a device doesn't meet the standards it was approved under. A lawsuit can help by:

Recovering compensation for revision surgery, hospitalization, and future medical care
Recovering compensation for lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Recovering compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress
Using the discovery process to seek information about what manufacturers knew about manufacturing problems and when they knew it
Holding companies accountable for placing defective devices into the market

Understanding the LINX Reflux Management System

The LINX device is a small, flexible ring of magnetic titanium beads connected by titanium wire links. It is surgically placed around the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. The magnetic attraction between the beads is designed to help the sphincter stay closed, keeping stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus, while still allowing food to pass through when a patient swallows.

The FDA approved the LINX device in 2012. It was originally developed and sold by Torax Medical, Inc., a Minnesota company. In 2017, Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary headquartered in New Jersey, acquired Torax and took over responsibility for manufacturing, marketing, and selling the device.

Because the LINX device depends on every bead and wire link staying connected, a single break can leave patients with an open, non-functioning ring inside their body.

The 2018 LINX Recall

On April 20, 2018, Torax Medical initiated a voluntary recall of certain LINX devices after identifying a "possible out-of-specification condition" that could allow a bead to separate from an adjacent wire link, resulting in a "discontinuous or open" device. The FDA classified it as a Class 2 recall (Recall No. Z-2039-2018).

Key facts about the recall:

9,131 devices distributed in the United States and internationally were included
Recall No. Z-2039-2018 covered LINX Implant Clasp devices with product codes LXMC-13, LXMC-14, LXMC-15, LXMC-16, and LXMC-17 (13 to 17 beads). The broader 2018 recall event also included other LINX models and product codes.
The reason cited was a manufacturing condition, not the way the device was implanted or used

Because an implanted LINX device may remain in place for years, some patients may not discover a device problem until symptoms return or testing shows that the device has broken or become discontinuous.

Complications Linked to LINX Device Failure

When a LINX device breaks, separates, or fails, patients may experience:

Return or worsening of acid reflux and GERD symptoms
Pain in or around the esophagus
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Slowed digestion
Erosion of the esophagus
Migration of the device or loose device components
Additional surgery to remove and replace the device, with the added risks that come with a second esophageal operation

If a doctor told you your LINX device was "disrupted," "discontinuous," or "open," or recommended removing it, it's worth having your case reviewed.

Legal Claims LINX Reflux Device Lawsuit Attorneys May Pursue

Anapol Weiss's LINX cases are brought as product liability claims against Torax Medical and Ethicon. Depending on the facts of your case and the law that applies, your claims may include:

Manufacturing defect: the specific device implanted in the patient was not made according to the applicable manufacturing specifications, and was unreasonably dangerous as a result
Negligence: the manufacturers failed to use reasonable care in manufacturing, testing, and inspecting the device before it reached patients
Negligence per se, where permitted by applicable state law: the manufacturers violated federal manufacturing requirements, including applicable FDA manufacturing and quality-system requirements.

Why Choose Anapol Weiss as Your LINX Lawsuit Lawyers

More Than 45 Years of Trial Experience. Founded in 1977, Anapol Weiss has spent decades representing people harmed by dangerous products and defective medical devices, and the firm's attorneys have served in leadership roles in some of the nation's largest multidistrict litigations.
No Fees Unless We Win. We handle LINX cases on a contingency-fee basis. There is no cost to have your case reviewed, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Resources to Investigate Device Failures. These cases often turn on product codes, lot numbers, and manufacturing records that patients don't have easy access to. The Anapol Weiss team works with medical experts and gathers the records needed to show what went wrong.
A Compassionate, Client-First Approach. We understand that behind every case is a person who trusted a device to improve their quality of life. We handle each case with the care and attention it deserves.

Contact Anapol Weiss for a Free Consultation With Our LINX Reflux Device Lawsuit Attorneys

If you or a loved one had a LINX Reflux Management System implanted and later suffered device failure, returning reflux symptoms, or needed surgery to remove or replace the device, the Anapol Weiss team is here to help. Our consultations are free and confidential, and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.

Call 215-735-1130 or complete our online contact form today.

LINX Reflux Device Lawsuit Attorneys