A jury in West Virginia has awarded $18.5 million to four women who suffered painful complications after receiving Boston Scientific’s Obtryx vaginal mesh slings. The verdict included an award of $4 million in punitive damages, $1 million to each plaintiff to punish for Boston Scientific’s “gross negligence”. The women had the Obtryx slings implanted to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Thornton Law Firm represents women in Massachusetts and across the country for their injuries related to defective mesh implants.
The women introduced evidence that their Obtryx vaginal mesh implants caused them nerve damage, severe infections and pain during sex. They showed that Boston Scientific hurried the products to market without adequate scientific testing, and ignored internal calls for more testing. Further, plaintiffs showed that the mesh material Boston Scientific rushed to implant in thousands of women was never intended for human implantation by its manufacturer. Compensatory damages awarded to each individual plaintiff ranged from $3.25 million to $4.25 million.
This was the second group of cases tried from the federal court MultiDistrict Litigation docket which is consolidated in Charleston, West Virginia. The previous trial involved Boston Scientific’s Pinnacle mesh implant, which was used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and resulted in an award of $26.7 million.
Boston Scientific, based in Massachusetts, faces more than 23,000 cases in the U.S., Canadian, and U.K. courts for their various transvaginal mesh products. The jury awards obtained against it to date will undoubtedly put pressure on Boston Scientific to consider resolving the many claims of plaintiffs injured by their products.
In total there are over 60,000 cases pending against Boston Scientific and the other companies who sold defective vaginal mesh, including Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit and C.R. Bard. If you have suffered complications after receiving a mesh implant, including mesh erosion, pain, mesh contraction, bleeding, severe pelvic pain, infection, urinary problems, vaginal tightening or shortening, painful sexual intercourse, inability to engage in sexual intercourse, additional surgeries, or organ perforation, call the transvaginal mesh lawyers at Thornton Law Firm at 888-341-1405 for a free, confidential consultation, or tell us your story by clicking here. Like all legal claims, mesh claims have short time limits for filing, so do not delay seeking legal advice.
