Published May 19, 2014 by Digital Journal
Thousands of transvaginal mesh lawsuits filed against American Medical Systems, Inc. continue to move forward in a consolidated litigation underway in U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia. On May 16, 2014, the Court approved a new Docket Control Order pertaining to the litigation’s third round of bellwether trials. Among other things, the Order stipulates that all discovery, including depositions of all company witnesses and third parties, will be completed by July 14, 2014. Dates for pretrial and settlement conferences, as well as the start date for the trial itself, will be determined by the Court at a future Status Conference. (In Re American Medical Systems, Inc. – MDL No. 2325)
Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits
According to court documents, tens of thousands of vaginal mesh lawsuits have been filed against American Medical Systems in courts around the country. The vast majority of claims are pending in the Southern District of West Virginia, where Jeffrey S. Grand is serving on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
On April 30, 2014, Endo International PLC, the parent company of American Medical Systems, announced a settlement agreement that could potentially resolve some 20,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits pending against the company. Among other things, Endo indicated that it has set aside $830 million to cover the settlement agreement, which is expected to be implemented over the next year. Endo did not admit liability or fault for any plaintiffs’ alleged vaginal mesh complications in agreeing to the settlement plan.*
According to court filings, American Medical Systems is just one of several companies named in vaginal mesh lawsuits in the Southern District of West Virginia. In addition to his work on that litigation, Mr. Grand is also serving on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees in several proceedings established in that jurisdiction that involve Boston Scientific Corp., (MDL 2326), C.R. Bard, Inc. (MDL 2325) and Ethicon, Inc. (MDL No. 2327).
Mr. Grand is also serving as Co-Liaison Counsel in two consolidated proceedings established for C.R. Bard and Ethicon mesh lawsuits in New Jersey’s Atlantic Superior Court. He was also a member of the plaintiff’s trial team for the first Ethicon trial, which ended in March with an $11 million verdict for the Plaintiff. (In re: Pelvic Mesh/Gynecare Litigation, No. 6341-10; In re: Pelvic Mesh Litigation/Bard, No. L-6339-10).
Alleged victims of serious vaginal mesh complications may be entitled to compensation for their injury-related damages. To learn more about filing a transvaginal mesh lawsuit, please visit Carey Danis & Lowe’s website https://careydanis.com. To obtain a free, confidential and no-obligation case review, please call 1.800.721.2519.
