Prolift Mesh Plaintiff Awarded $3.35 Million Verdict In New Jersey

Vaginal mesh lawsuit plaintiff Linda Gross has been awarded a $3.35 million verdict from a New Jersey jury in the first case involving transvaginal mesh complications to go to trial in the United States. The verdict was handed down on February 25, 2013 in Atlantic County Superior Court by a 7-2 majority vote. The jury agreed with plaintiff Linda Gross’ vaginal mesh lawyer that Ethicon Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturers of the Prolift Mesh implant, failed to sufficiently warn Gross and her surgeon of the potential dangers linked with the device, and that her injuries were directly caused by the implant. Judge Carol Higbee presided over the case.

NJ plaintiff wins damages for transvaginal mesh complications

Thousands of women across the country have filed similar transvaginal mesh lawsuits after experiencing painful and life-altering complications following vaginal mesh surgery. Commonly reported side effects from the implants include vaginal mesh extrusion (exposure or protrusion from the vaginal tissue), pain, infection, excessive bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, organ perforation, urinary incontinence, and mesh erosion. Some patients have required multiple revision surgeries in an attempt to remove the problematic devices.

A New York product liability lawyer can help

The New York personal injury attorneys at The Sanders Firm continue to work on behalf of over 3,500 women who have sustained injuries from a variety of vaginal mesh devices and subsequently filed lawsuits in both state and federal courts (including New Jersey’s Atlantic County). Indicated for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), vaginal mesh implants that have been implicated in lawsuits include models designed and manufactured not only by Ethicon and J&J, but also American Medical Systems, C.R. Bard, and Boston Scientific, among others. Sanders Firm lawyer Victoria J. Maniatis specializes in Prolift mesh cases, in which plaintiffs make similar allegations as those made by Linda Gross, who received the $3.35 million jury verdict. Maniatis has been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for vaginal mesh cases centralized in West Virginia federal court. Also known as multidistrict litigation, or MDL, this large-scale coordination of cases is being overseen by the Honorable Joseph R. Goodwin, Chief Judge, United States District Court. Injured plaintiffs from across the country have had their cases transferred to West Virginia for the purpose of coordinated discovery and the elimination of conflicting judicial rulings.

In 2006, Gross received the Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair System, which is one of four vaginal mesh devices that Ethicon withdrew from the market in August of 2012. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a medical device safety communication in July 2011 to alert consumers and the medical community that “surgical placement of mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ prolapse may expose patients to greater risk than other surgical options.” The agency also warned that “no evidence of greater clinical benefit such as improved quality of life” had been demonstrated in regard to mesh implants.

Jury sides with vaginal mesh lawsuit plaintiff

A 47-year-old nurse from South Dakota, Gross was implanted with the Prolift mesh to treat posterior pelvic prolapse. According to her lawsuit complaint, she went on to suffer numerous complications resulting from the device, such as “mesh erosion, formation of scar tissue, inflammation and neurologic compromise to her structures and tissue.” As a result, Gross’ transvaginal mesh lawyer argued that the plaintiff was compelled to endure “intensive medical care and treatment, multiple operations, and has sustained permanent pain, suffering, disability, impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, and economic damages.”

Defendant company Johnson & Johnson disputed Gross’ claims, arguing instead that “Ethicon acted appropriately and responsibly in the research, development and marketing of pelvic mesh products to treat debilitating conditions affecting many women.”

Consult a New York product liability lawyer

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries following surgical implantation of Gynecare Prolift mesh, or any transvaginal or pelvic mesh device, you are not alone—thousands of women have experienced the same life-changing, sometimes crippling injuries without ever being informed of the risks they were facing. Qualified attorneys are currently offering free case assessments to vaginal mesh victims. New Yorkers who have been injured can count on the experienced lawyers at The Sanders Firm to provide an expert evaluation of their case and guide them through the complex litigation process. There is still time to file a lawsuit and hold the device manufacturer accountable in a court of law for the harm they have done. Call us today for a complimentary case review at 800-FAIR PLAY.