Zimmer Biomet was ordered by a judge to unseal dozens of internal corporate documents related to its metal-on-metal hip products, according to The Legal Examiner.
Five things to know:
1. The ruling came in response to a request by Maglio Christopher & Toale, a law firm with 16 attorneys and offices in Washington, D.C., Florida, and Washington state.
2. One of the unsealed documents is a memo asking employees to prioritize the development of products that would maximize the company's return on investment. The memo is dated July 11, 2000.
3. Zimmer Biomet's large-diameter metal-on-metal hip and its super-constrained knee with offset tibial tray products were prioritized as "super projects" that would have the biggest influence on the company's bottom line, according to the memo.
4. The unsealed documents could play a role in the 19 lawsuits Zimmer Biomet is facing related to its metal-on-metal hip implants, according to MCTLaw.
5. The earliest trial date is scheduled for May 4.