Avaulta Mesh Lawsuit Leads to $5.5M Award

A California jury awarded $5.5 million in damages to a couple who sued the maker of a vaginal mesh implant in a landmark verdict with implications for hundreds of transvaginal mesh lawsuits that claim the medical devices caused internal damage to patients.

Transvaginal meshes are implantable devices used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and incontinence, and they are made by several manufacturers including C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson.

Plaintiff Christine Scott had a Bard Avaulta transvaginal mesh surgically implanted over four years ago to fix a bladder problem and suffered complications shortly after, according to NBC affiliate KGET. The device was damaging her colon and tissue continues to grow through the tiny holes in the mesh. Scott has since had multiple surgeries and continues to deal with complications from the device.

The lawsuit claimed that the company was aware the product was unsafe and that the device ruined the couple’s love life, according to KGET.

The company reportedly stopped selling the Avaulta Mesh in the U.S. earlier this month because the Food and Drug Administration wanted to have more clinical trials conducted.

Scott’s is the first case over transvaginal mesh devices to go to trial. There are hundreds of lawsuits pending around the country against Bard and other transvaginal mesh manufacturers including Boston Scientific Corp. and Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit, according to Bloomberg News.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe medical device, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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