C.R. Bard Inc. is scheduled to face its first federal court trial early next year over allegations that the company’s transvaginal mesh (TVM) devices injured recipients. A trial date of Feb. 5, 2013, has been set for the first of approximately 600 federal lawsuits alleging that Bard’s Avaulta implant caused severe organ damage. U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin is overseeing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Bard, Johnson & Johnson, and other major manufacturers of vaginal mesh products.
If you or a loved one has been injured by transvaginal mesh, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free confidential case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.
In addition to the looming federal litigation, Bard faces a torrent of transvaginal mesh lawsuits filed on the state level. It has been estimated that more than 75,000 women a year have TVM products implanted to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
In August 2011, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) published a report which concluded that TVM devices should be re-classified as posing a high risk to recipients. The decision was based on a cumulative review of adverse event reports submitted to the administration between January 2008 and December 2010. A number of public watchdog and women’s rights groups have been demanding that the implants be recalled nationwide.
Earlier this year, the FDA sent letters to 31 TVM manufacturers, including Bard & J&J, ordering them to investigate the long-term health complications associated with their devices. The administration stated that the companies must conduct at least 36 months of studies on the implants’ safety and effectiveness. A large number of women have said their TVM eroded and shrank over time, causing excruciating pain and prolonged injuries.
The order of trials for the federal Avaulta cases will reportedly be determined after completion of pretrial information exchanges between Bard and the plaintiffs, Judge Goodwin said in his order.
The Bard consolidated cases are:
- In RE C.R. Bard Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation, 2:10-MD-02187, U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia (Charleston)
Do I Have a Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in transvaginal mesh lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one has been injured by a transvaginal mesh device, you should contact our lawyers immediately by clicking the link below or calling toll free 1-800-773-0849. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.