MIAMI (May 30, 2001) — Colson Hicks Eidson today announced that it has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Carlos J. Arboleya—retired President of Barnett Bank and Vice Chairman of Bank of America—in Miami-Dade District Court against Sulzer Orthopedics Inc of Austin, TX for producing the “Inter-Op Acetabular Shell™”, a faulty hip implant that may have affected over 17,500 consumers—most of which live in Florida, Texas, California and Arizona.

Arboleya, a well respected civic and community leader who is a former President of the Dade County Chamber of Commerce, underwent hip replacement surgery last October, at which time a Sulzer “Inter-Op Acetabular Shell™” was implanted. After the surgery, he experienced great pain walking and difficulty moving about and on April 17, 20001, he was submitted to a second surgery to remove the defective implant.

To date there have been over 1,700 revision surgeries to remove the defective Inter-Op™—which was recalled on December 8, 2000, by Sulzer Media, the parent company headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland.

“According to a Sulzer press release on December 8, 2000, Sulzer had received 61 reports of loosening of the Inter-Op shells since October of 1999 and the company neglected warning consumers and doctors about its defective implant,” said a partner at Colson Hicks Eidson and President of the Dade County Bar Association. “Mr. Arboleya and many others like him had the faulty device implanted after Sulzer knew about the problems associated with the hip implants and now face additional surgery and medical expenses; that is shameful.”

The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering in addition to compensation for economic losses associated with medical bills and lost wages. The implant is defective as a result of the lubricant residue that prevents the device from bonding with the hipbone causing symptoms including severe groin pain and an inability to bear weight on the leg.

Sulzer Medica (NYSE:SM) develops, manufactures and markets implantable medical devices and biological products for cardiovascular and orthopedic markets worldwide.

Colson Hicks Eidson, a trial law firm founded in 1967, represents several victims of Sulzer’s defective “Inter-Op Acetabular Shell™”.