Hernia Mesh Injury Lawsuits. Covidien, which is now known as Medtronic, manufacturers a number of hernia mesh products that are currently the subject of litigation. Parker Waichman LLP is pursuing lawsuits on behalf of people injured by Covidien’s hernia mesh implants, and we are currently taking new cases. If you had an operation to repair a hernia using a Covidien/Medtronic implant, contact our firm today to discuss your potential for filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Covidien Hernia Mesh Causes Severe Injuries
Covidien’s hernia repair devices are made of synthetic polyester and polypropylene, which are essentially plastic materials woven into pieces of mesh. The hernia mesh is filled with tiny holes, like a net, and is designed to allow surgeons to push herniated tissue back in place while reinforcing the weakened tissue wall that allowed a hernia to occur.
Surgeons select the brand of mesh they want to use for a patient’s surgery based on the size and location of the patient’s hernia Several well-known and widely used Covidien/Medtronic hernia mesh implants include:
- Parietex Composite Mesh
- Parietex Plug and Patch System
- Parietex ProGrip Mesh
- Parietex Optimized Open Skirt Mesh
- Parietex Hydrophilic Anatomical Mesh
- Parietex Folding Mesh
- Parietex Flat Sheet Mesh
- Parietex Lightweight Monofilament Mesh
Covidien defectively designed and manufactured its line of hernia mesh products, and the corporation failed to notify patients and doctors about the risks of severe injuries from these plastic implants. We are representing clients who have experienced the following complications from their Covidien/Medtronic hernia mesh implants:
- Chronic pain
- Infection
- Adhesions
- Bowel obstruction
- Mesh tearing
- Mesh erosion and perforation
- Mesh folding
- Mesh migration
- Mesh shrinkage
- Intestinal fistula
- Spermatic cord injuries
- Testicular ischemia
Each of these injuries has a serious effect on our clients’ lives, and the majority of them require additional surgery to remove the mesh and address the injury. But because of the defective design of the mesh, the implants are extremely difficult — and sometimes impossible — to remove. Patients’ tissue rapidly grows into the tiny holes in the mesh, which leaves surgeons with the horribly complicated task of trying to separate and remove the encapsulated implants from healthy tissue without causing significant damage to patients. Many people’s Covidien implants can never be completely removed, and they are stuck with lifelong fragments inside their bodies.
Parker Waichman is taking a stand against Covidien and its successor corporation, Medtronic, to hold them accountable for placing so many people in harm’s way. We are reviewing and filing cases and can begin an investigation of your claims with one call to our offices.
Hernia Mesh Litigation Status
Litigation involving polyester and polypropylene hernia mesh implants is widespread and involves many different brands and manufacturers. Firms around the country, including Parker Waichman, are pushing for federal consolidations of the cases called multidistrict litigations. Multidistrict litigations (MDLs) allow many cases of the same kind to be placed in one federal court for one judge to decide pretrial matters. Through the use of MDLs, lawyers avoid duplication of efforts and enjoy uniform decisions, rather than having to make sense of hundreds of judges’ decisions around the country.
In litigations the size and nature of hernia mesh, unique MDLs will form for each manufacturer. The first hernia mesh MDL was formed in 2007 for all cases involving Davol Inc. hernia mesh products. This was in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. There are now MDLs for hernia mesh products manufactured by Atrium Medical Corp. (U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire). Plaintiffs who have experienced problems with these manufacturers’ implants can file their cases in the corresponding MDL court and will follow the orders and rules set forth by that MDL judge.
Absent an MDL; your lawyer will determine the appropriate place for filing, based on the facts of your case. In a Covidien case, we have several options for filing and will evaluate your claim and consider state and federal rules to decide the best venue for your potential litigation.
Covidien Settlement News
Just as Davol was the first corporation to become involved in a hernia mesh MDL, it was the first to settle hernia mesh cases. Davol and its parent corporation C.R. Bard settled more than 2,000 hernia mesh cases in 2011 for $184 million.
In addition, Covidien agreed in 2015 to settle thousands of pelvic mesh cases for a multi-million-dollar amount. These settlements are ongoing and involve the same mesh material, though the implants are designed for transvaginal surgeries, rather than hernia repair.
Covidien hernia mesh settlement negotiation has not yet taken place, but Parker Waichman is working every day toward the compensation our clients need. When you hire us for your hernia mesh claim, we will pursue damages for every way you have been harmed, including:
- The costs associated with your past, current, and anticipated future medical treatment for your hernia mesh injuries.
- Past and anticipated future lost wages and income, including lost earning capacity, that you have sustained because of your hernia mesh injuries.
- Compensation for the mental pain and suffering you have experienced because of your hernia mesh injuries.
- Loss of consortium damages (for the various ways your hernia mesh injuries have affected your relationship with your spouse.)
- Punitive damages, if the facts of the case show the mesh manufacturer(s) engaged in egregious conduct that warrants an award having a punishing effect.
While no settlement can ever be guaranteed, we can guarantee that we will fight for what you deserve. We understand you and your family need a timely and fair resolution, and you can count on Parker Waichman to work tirelessly to achieve those on your behalf.
What are the Next Steps?
If you underwent a hernia repair procedure using Covidien/Medtronic mesh and developed mesh complications, the next step is to contact our firm. Even if you do not know for sure which mesh product you have, our office can help you uncover that information by obtaining a copy of your medical records. Parker Waichman is offering free hernia mesh consultations, and you can speak with an experienced attorney today.
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