Judge Joseph Goodwin, the federal judge in charge of overseeing multidistrict litigation involving transvaginal mesh and sling products, has moved to consolidate more than a dozen such lawsuits for jury trial this November. The decision came on June 12th, when he consolidated 26 transvaginal mesh lawsuits into a single trial which is set to begin on November 2nd of this year. All of these cases involve Ethicon’s Gynecare TVT Mesh. The plaintiffs at the center of these 26 cases allege that the product caused them serious injuries and complications, including surgical removal of the mesh.
Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, opposed the decision. Judge Goodwin, however, determined that the 26 cases were similar enough to try in front of a jury. Additionally, considering that there are more than 23,000 lawsuits currently pending against Johnson & Johnson, a consolidation was warranted. By consolidating these cases into one, all parties involved can also save time and money. For the individuals who have suffered after having a mesh product implanted, a timely decision would come as a relief. So far, Ethicon has failed to settle cases with plaintiffs.
Legal Commentary
The complications caused by these devices have left many women to suffer with horrid recoveries, large medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain. From a civil standpoint, our firm has represented numerous families who are the victims of the complications from the transvaginal mesh device. If you or a loved one has experienced any of these problems because of an implanted or removed Mentor transvaginal mesh or sling, we encourage you to consult with one of our transvaginal mesh attorneys as soon as possible. A successful civil claim pursued against the responsible party will help compensate the victims for the costly medical expenses, and hopefully for their pain, suffering, and lost wages for time missed from work. Further questions can be directed to the Fears | Nachawati Law Firm by emailing the lead TV Mesh lawyer, Majed Nachawati at mn@fnlawfirm.com, or by calling our office at 1.866.705.7584.