Pelvic Mesh Lawsuits

Florida Attorneys Taking On Defective Transvaginal Mesh Cases

In early 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially ordered two major medical device companies – Boston Scientific and Coloplast – to stop selling all pelvic mesh products, also known as transvaginal meshes. Originally intended to strengthen weakened pelvic muscles after pelvic organ prolapse (POP), transvaginal meshes began to receive greater FDA scrutiny after thousands of women reported serious injuries through 2010. After almost a decade of heated legal battles, Boston Scientific and Coloplast were the only two remaining sellers of transvaginal mesh.

Now the seven primary vaginal mesh manufacturers, including both Boston Scientific and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, have been collectively ordered to pay at least $8 billion to resolve over 100,000 injury claims. At The Ferraro Law Firm, our nationally-recognized product liability attorneys can help you navigate the process of filing a pelvic mesh lawsuit in Florida and beyond. Although these dangerous and defective products are now banned for sale, the damage has already been done – and it’s our goal to help you seek justice and fair compensation if you’ve been hurt.

Do you need to discuss your transvaginal mesh case with one of our defective product lawyers? Call (888) 554-2030 today for a free initial consultation.

What Is Transvaginal Mesh?

Like other types of surgical mesh products, transvaginal meshes are small, screen-like sheets made from synthetic polymers, most commonly from polypropylene. Inserted into the body through an intensive surgical procedure called sacrocolpopexy, these meshes have been used to treat a range of gynecological conditions since the early 1950s, such as pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Post-menopausal women in their fifties and sixties tend to suffer from POP and SUI more than other groups, as the uterine ligaments and walls become weakened with age and pregnancy – but these conditions can affect women at any age.

As the use of polypropylene mesh became more common, companies like Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific capitalized on the trend and made substantial profits. Most recently, Ethicon (a division of Johnson & Johnson) released its ARTISYN® Y-Shaped Mesh or “Y-Mesh” onto the market, claiming that it was an efficient support solution during sacrocolpopexy procedures. This product replaced four Ethicon vaginal mesh implants that were removed from the market in 2012 due to continuing defective product claims.

The top four manufacturers of pelvic mesh in the United States include:

• Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon)
• Boston Scientific
• C.R. Bard
• Endo Pharmaceuticals (American Medical Systems)

Common Complications with Defective Pelvic Mesh

By the time the FDA re-classified pelvic meshes as “high-risk medical devices” in 2016, thousands of women had already endured serious complications. From pain during intercourse to recurring UTIs, most pelvic mesh complications cause extreme discomfort for victims, leading to a drastically lowered quality of life. In some rare instances, a defective transvaginal mesh may also cause life-threatening injuries and illnesses and require immediate surgical removal.

Some of the complications associated with pelvic mesh:

• Protrusion through the bladder and uterus
• Urinary incontinence and UTIs
• Bladder and kidney infections
• Acute abdominal injury
• Hemorrhage
• Abdominal pain and inflammation
• Severe pain during intercourse

Am I Eligible to File a Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit?

Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit settled the first round of transvaginal mesh lawsuits in 2016, reaching a $120 million deal with over 3,000 affected plaintiffs. In addition to facing ongoing class-action lawsuits over its talcum powder and opioid products, Johnson & Johnson was also ordered to pay over $344 million in damages for its ARTISYN® Y-Shaped Mesh in early 2020. This follows another $800 million judgment against the company for vaginal mesh products the previous year.

If you experienced a serious complication because of polypropylene-based transvaginal mesh within the last 4 years, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, or another mesh manufacturer. Our team at The Ferraro Law Firm is currently accepting cases for those who have sustained serious pelvic mesh injuries, and with 30 years of experience holding medical device companies accountable for dangerous products, we have the knowledge and resources to help you pursue all possible legal options.

You may also be eligible to pursue a claim if you:

• Have recently undergone a sacrocolpopexy procedure
• Have suffered a pelvic organ prolapse
• Have noticed a pattern of complications related to a transvaginal mesh
• Have needed surgery to remove a defective mesh device

The Ferraro Law Firm’s Product Liability Attorneys Will Fight for Your Rights

Based in Florida, our defective medical device attorneys can also take cases nationwide, and we have a strong track record of success when it comes to complex product liability claims. With billions recovered for injury victims in the past, we’re not afraid to take on global pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and hold them accountable for their actions. Whether you were the victim of deceptive advertising practices or have a strict liability claim over device defects, our attorneys have the determination and drive to carry your case through to trial if necessary.