Jury Awards Woman $3.5 Million in Vaginal Mesh Case
The first trial over whether Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately warn about the potential dangers of the Gynecare Prolift vaginal mesh implant is over — and the jury has awarded the plaintiff $3.5 million.
The trial, which took place in State Superior Court in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was the first in the some 1,800 cases pending against J&J and its Ethicon unit concerning the Gynecare Prolift’s adverse effects. This Bellwether transvaginal mesh trial verdict is seen by many experts as possibly setting a precedent for those lawsuits and thousands of similar suits brought against companies that have manufactured similar vaginal mesh products.
The woman who filed the lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit claimed that the Gynacare Prolift was not a safe product; that Ethicon and J&J had not adequately warned about potential complications; and that the medical device manufacturing giant was liable for defective design and manufacture.
The plaintiff stated that the use of J&J’s Prolift for her pelvic prolapse condition led to a litany of problems that included pain, inflammation, scar tissue buildup, and “neurological compromise” of structures and tissue. She stated she had undergone 18 revision surgeries to fix the problem, but that nothing she did eliminated the pain she was feeling.
Reuters reports there are some 11,000 other claims that have been filed against other manufacturers’ of vaginal mesh devices and that they have been consolidated into five cases that are currently pending trial in federal court in West Virginia. There are still some 4,000 lawsuits pending over J&J vaginal mesh products nationwide.
Have you suffered vaginal mesh product injuries? You may be entitled to compensation. The law firm of Farah & Farah can discuss your case and outline your legal options, but it is important that you contact us as soon as possible concerning your case. Call us at (800) 533-3555 or contact us online for a free consultation.
