Resuming Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits: FAQs (Pt. 1), here, we will respond to some more common questions about these product liability cases.
Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits: More Important Info
Q – What is an MDL and how does this matter to transvaginal mesh lawsuits?
A – MDL, or multidistrict litigation, is essentially the consolidation of various similar cases for the purposes of facilitating the pre-trial process. Because thousands of transvaginal mesh lawsuits have already been filed against the various manufacturers of these devices, many of these cases have been transferred to MDLs in federal courts in order to more efficiently conduct discovery for them.
Just a few of the reasons that MDLs matter for transvaginal mesh lawsuits include that they:
- Allow plaintiffs (i.e., injured women who have filed claims) share evidence and resources
- Provide consistent rulings on pending issues in these cases
- Don’t use up as many court resources (as these cases are all proceeding through one court for pre-trial proceedings, rather than through thousands of separate courts across the U.S.).
Here, it’s also important to note that:
- It’s a plaintiff’s choice whether to join the MDL or not.
- Once the pre-trial phase is finished, the cases will typically be remitted to the jurisdiction in which they were filed for trial (that is, if the cases aren’t settled prior to trial).
Q – Have some transvaginal mesh lawsuits been settled already?
A – Yes. Although there are still thousands of transvaginal mesh lawsuits still pending, thousands of other cases have already been settled, with some settlements being confidential and others ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
In fact, there seems to be a trend with many of these cases being settled prior to trial, particularly when similar prior cases have ended with punitive damages being awarded to plaintiffs (punitive damages are intended to punish vaginal mesh makers and can far exceed the compensatory damages in these cases).
Q – How are transvaginal mesh lawsuits fairing at trial?
A – There have been mixed results for the cases that have already gone to trial. In fact, while vaginal mesh manufacturers have been successful in some cases, there have been a substantial number of trials that have also resulted in favorable verdicts for the plaintiffs in these cases.
Don’t miss the upcoming conclusion to this blog series for some more important info about transvaginal mesh lawsuits.
St. Louis Vaginal Mesh Injury Lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law
If you have suffered complications after using defective vaginal mesh devices, contact the St. Louis vaginal mesh injury lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. We have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating through the complexities of the court system.
For a free initial consult, email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen and/or call us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office.