Hernia Mesh Litigation and Settlement News
The attorneys at Stern Law are currently litigating cases involving hernia mesh. If you had surgery to repair a hernia using mesh and developed an injury, contact our office today to see if you might be entitled to file a lawsuit.
Hernia Mesh Uses and Injuries
A hernia occurs when internal organs, most often the intestines, protrude through a weakened wall of muscle or tissue. One of the ways doctors repair hernias is through use of surgical mesh. The mesh is usually made of synthetic polypropylene or polyester material and is used to reinforce the weakened muscle or tissue wall while pushing the protruding organs back into place. By design, scar tissue will grow into the holes of the mesh, creating stronger protection for the organs.
Unfortunately, however, many mesh devices cause problems for patients. The most common injuries we have seen in our practice include:
- Chronic pain
- Infection
- Adhesions
- Mesh tearing
- Mesh erosion
- Mesh perforation
- Mesh folding
- Mesh migration
- Mesh shrinkage
The hernia mesh litigation is expansive because of the volume of mesh products and number of manufacturers involved. In litigations of this size, the parties will usually try to form Multidistrict Litigations (MDLs). An MDL is essentially a consolidation of cases in one federal court. Unique MDLs can be formed for each manufacturer, based on the number of lawsuits filed against that manufacturer.
The first hernia mesh MDL formed in 2007 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, centralizing lawsuits filed against the manufacturer Davol Inc., regarding its Kugel™ hernia mesh patches. In 2011, Davol (through its parent corporation, C.R. Bard, Inc.) settled more than 2,000 of these cases for $184 million.
Most recently, an MDL formed to centralize hernia mesh lawsuits filed against the manufacturer Atrium Medical Corp. in the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire. There is also an active application to form an MDL for hernia mesh lawsuits filed against Ethicon, Inc. Litigation of these cases is in its early stages, so no settlement negotiations have yet taken place.
Contact Stern Law, PLLC
If you’re suffering from a mesh complication, you need the best legal representation on your side to make sure your claim is included in any potential settlements. Our lawyers have more than 30 years’ experience fighting for victims of medical device injuries. Contact our office today by calling (844) 808-7529, and schedule your free consultation with a dedicated product liability attorney from our law firm.
