A recent lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, a vaginal mesh manufacturer, resulted in a $3.5 million settlement for the victim. The trial took place in February 2013 and is one of the many different lawsuits going forth after recent studies have confirmed the safety concerns associated with vaginal mesh products.
The $33.5 million settlement is a glimpse into what is to come for Johnson & Johnson and the thousands of victims that have been impacted by this dangerous product. The victim, Linda Gross, 47 from South Dakota, won the case after the jury found that the manufacturer guilty of misrepresentation.
Gross, a nurse, had the product implanted in 2006 and experienced various problems including mesh erosion and scar tissue. She underwent 18 different correctional surgeries between 2006 and 2008. This is the first of many cases set to go to trial in the next year. In fact, there have been over 11,000 complaints from women that have experienced problems associated with a vaginal mesh product and have filed a vaginal mesh lawsuit.
Vaginal mesh products, including transvaginal mesh, bladder slings and pelvic mesh are designed to help those suffering from pelvic organ prolapse and urinary stress continence. However, recent studies have confirmed that the products are quite unsafe. Johnson & Johnson as well as the other manufacturers of the products failed to provide adequate testing of the product before it was released to the public. Furthermore, the companies failed to provide adequate warning about the side effects and health concerns associated with vaginal mesh products. These health concerns include erosion of the device into the uterine wall and other organs, failure to work, pain, infertility and other serious conditions. In some instances the damage can be corrected with numerous surgeries; in other cases, the damage is not reversible.
Because of the sheer number of women experiencing complications from various vaginal mesh products, vaginal mesh lawsuits have been consolidated into one multidistrict litigation. The claims have all been consolidated into a federal court in West Virginia and include the companies Ethicon, C.R. Bard Inc., Boston Scientific Corp, Coloplast, and Endo Health Solutions’ American Medical Systems Inc.
It is not too late to speak to a vaginal mesh lawyer to discuss your legal options. If you have been impacted by a vaginal mesh health condition, including erosion of the mesh, pain and the need for corrective surgery, then now is the time to act. While lawyers are still reviewing cases, time is limited and it is important that you act fast.
Contact McEwen Law Firm on 1-800-732-3070 today for more information on filing a vaginal mesh lawsuit and your legal options.