Ethicon Transvaginal Mesh Complications Result in $13.5M Verdict at Trial in Philadelphia

A Philadelphia jury has awarded $13.5 million in damages to a woman who suffered severe and debilitating complications after an Ethicon transvaginal mesh product moved out of position. 

The verdict was handed down in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday, marking the second state court vaginal mesh lawsuit over the past three months to result in a multi-million dollar damage award against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon subsidiary.

The manufacturer faces nearly 50,000 similar claims brought by women throughout the United States, each involving allegations that the mesh used for repair of pelvic organ prolapse or female stress urinary incontinence migrated through the vagina, caused infections and other painful injuries.

Following a two week trial involving a case filed by Sharon Carlino, the jury awarded $3.5 million in compensatory damages and hit the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary with an additional $10 million in punitive damages, which is designed to punish the medical device manufacturer for their actions involving the manufacture and sale of the mesh product.

In December, another Philadelphia jury awarded $12.5 million in damages in a case filed by Patricia Hammons, including $7 million in punitive damages.

While there have been some recent reports suggesting that Ethicon is attempting to settle some vaginal mesh cases, additional trials are expected over the coming year if the manufacturer fails to resolve the litigation.

Other manufacturers of similar products have agreed to pay hundreds of millions in vaginal mesh settlements to resolve claims, and Bloomberg News reports that Johnson & Johnson has set aside more than $1 billion to deal with the claims.