New Jersey Woman Awarded $11.1 Million in Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit, Reports Baron and Budd
DALLAS (PRWEB) April 24, 2014 -- The national law firm of Baron and Budd reports that a New Jersey jury previously awarded an $11.1 million settlement to a patient in her transvaginal mesh lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against Ethicon, the maker of the Gynecare Prolift mesh device, and its parent company Johnson & Johnson, according to a March 26, 2014 article from LawyersandSettlements.com. (http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/defective-products/prolift-transvaginal-mesh-settlement-19634.html#.U07ycDlmARk). Russell Budd, co-founder and managing shareholder of national law firm Baron and Budd, serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the transvaginal mesh litigation.
The patient, a 47-year-old nurse, testified during the transvaginal mesh lawsuit trial that she had to undergo 18 unsuccessful revision procedures after the mesh was initially implanted. The jury awarded her and her husband $7.8 million in punitive damages in addition to the $3.5 million that was originally rewarded. (In Re: Case No. Atl-L-6966-10 in the Superior Court of Atlantic County, New Jersey)
In this case, the jury found the defendants knew that Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon were both aware that the Gynecare Prolift device could cause several different complications. However, neither Ethicon nor Johnson & Johnson warned patients, continuing to aggressively market the product to physicians.
This transvaginal mesh lawsuit is regarded as a “bellweather case,” or one of the first of thousands of such lawsuits to get to the trial stage. On April 4, a Dallas jury awarded another patient $1.2 million in a lawsuit against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson for defects associated with the TVT-O transvaginal mesh sling, according to court documents. (Batiste v. McNabb, No. 12-14350, District Court for the 95th Judicial District, Dallas County Texas (Dallas)).
Transvaginal meshes and slings are designed to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. However, in many instances they have eroded, causing substantial pain, serious organ damage and many other issues. Several patients, such as the plaintiff in the New Jersey case, have had to undergo many painful revision surgeries in order to attempt to correct the complications, according to court documents.
“We applaud the extremely significant statement made by the New Jersey jury on behalf of the plaintiff,” said Stephen Blackburn, an attorney at Baron and Budd. “These and other transvaginal mesh lawsuits are sending a very strong message that pharmaceutical giants should be held responsible for their actions.”
If you or someone close to you has suffered health issues from a transvaginal mesh implant, please contact national law firm Baron and Budd immediately at 866-472-9108. To learn more, please visit our website at http://baronandbudd.com/areas-of-practice/pharmaceuticals/transvaginal-mesh-litigation/.
About Baron & Budd, P.C.
With a history of over 35 years “Protecting What’s Right” for individuals, communities, and governmental entities, Baron and Budd is a well-established law firm devoted to making a positive difference. With offices in Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles and Baton Rouge, Baron and Budd is able to take on complicated and expensive cases within the realms of dangerous drugs and medical devices, asbestos-related illnesses, consumer fraud, water contamination, the Gulf oil spill and fraudulent financial practices.
Amanda Billo, Baron & Budd, http://baronandbudd.com, +1 (214) 991-1051, [email protected]
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