Thousands of women around the nation have filed claims against Johnson & Johnson over its defective Ethicon Gynecare Prolift bladder sling and pelvic mesh products. On May 16, 2014, the federal judge presiding over the multidistrict litigation scheduled a bellweather trial for late summer. Jury selection is slated to begin on August 22 and the trial will commence three days later.
Currently, there are six distinct transvaginal mesh product liability lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Other defendants include Boston Scientific, C.R. Bard, Coloplast, Cook Medical, American Medical Systems, and Neomedic. The vaginal mesh lawsuits arise over claims that the mesh and bladder sling products were unreasonably dangerous and caused injuries and complications to the women who used them. Transvaginal mesh and bladder sling products have been used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
Jury and disclosed settlement awards related to various defective transvaginal mesh products have totaled more than $18 million. This total does not include confidential settlements. One of the largest awards of the vaginal mesh lawsuits was an $11.1 million award in March 2013 to a woman injured by Ethicon’s mesh product. Notably, Ethicon was not reported to be among the five vaginal mesh makers said to be in settlement talks last fall.
The products liability attorneys with The Cochran Firm, D.C. are actively investigating claims relate to Ethicon mesh products. If you or someone you love was injured by an Ethicon Gynecare Prolift bladder sling or pelvic mesh product, please contact us today. Because strict time limits apply to these claims, we recommend contacting us as soon as possible in order to preserve your rights.