Parietex Mesh Lawsuit Filed Over Failed Hernia Repair, Resulting in Need for Revision Surgery

Covidien and Medtronic face a product liability lawsuit over problems with Parietex hernia mesh, which a California woman indicates was defectively designed and manufactured, resulting in severe and irreversible injuries following a hernia repair.

Shari Annette Jorden filed the complaint (PDF) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 11, after her Parietex Optimized Composite Mesh failed and had to be surgically removed.

According to the lawsuit, Jorden underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in December 2014, at which time the mesh was implanted. However, in July 2018, her doctor determined the hernia was recurring and removed the Parietex mesh in September 2018.

“Even after the removal of the Parietex Optimized Composite Mesh, Plaintiff continues to suffer severe abdominal pain associated with the failed Parietex Optimized Composite Mesh,” the lawsuit states.

Jorden presents claims of strict liability, failure to warn and negligence.

The complaint raises claims similar to those presented in a number of other Covidien Parietex hernia mesh lawsuits being pursued by individuals who have experienced problems associated with the design, which plaintiffs allege is prone to unravel inside the body, resulting in its fibers migrating and causing inflammatory responses. It can also contract over time, according to the lawsuit, causing tension on tacks and sutures that result in tearing.

In addition to claims against Covidien over Parietex mesh, there are also a number of Bard hernia mesh lawsuits, Atrium C-Qur lawsuits and Ethicon Physiomesh lawsuits pending nationwide, leading to the federal court system to establish three separate centralized pretrial proceedings for litigation involving those products. However, there is currently no consolidated proceeding for the Covidien mesh lawsuits.