More trials set for vaginal mesh litigation

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In ongoing mass tort litigation over vaginal mesh implants, new bellwether trial dates have been set for cases over the Avaulta mesh product, manufactured by C.R. Bard.

The development comes on the heels of the first jury verdict in a vaginal mesh case. In July, in a case that was not part of multidistrict litigation, a California woman and her husband won a $5.5 million jury award in state court for injuries caused by the Avaulta mesh, including complete incontinence, chronic pain, inability to have sex and eight additional surgeries to try to remove the mesh.

Over 1,000 cases have been consolidated in four multidistrict litigations against the major vaginal mesh makers, including C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon and Boston Scientific.

Hundreds more cases have been filed in coordinated state court actions.

The lawsuits allege that the products, which are implanted in the pelvic area to deal with sagging organs, are defectively designed and cause serious injuries by puncturing internal organs, migrating and often requiring corrective surgery.

The first set of bellwether trials in the Bard Avaulta MDL are set to begin in February. The new batch will begin in June.