The same New Jersey jury that recently awarded $3.35 million in compensatory damages to a Prolift Transvaginal Mesh victim has decided to punish Johnson & Johnson by awarding the victim an extra $7.8 million in punitive damages over the company’s failure to warn about the increased risks of transvaginal mesh use.

$11.1 Million Total Award

According to the New York Business Journal, Linda Gross, a 47-year-old former hospice nurse from Watertown, South Dakota, was implanted with Ethicon’s Prolift Transvaginal Mesh device in 2006. Ethicon is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. She began to experience severe pain and was forced to undergo 18 unsuccessful surgeries. She made 400 visits to doctors and physical therapists for examinations, testing and treatment and was prescribed 20 different prescription medications to address her serious TVM side effects.

The $11.1 million total jury award is the first result of thousands of transvaginal mesh injury lawsuits filed against manufacturers of mesh products that are supposed to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Lawsuits allege that the companies failed to adequately test these devices or warn users about the increased risk of mesh erosion, pain, infection, pain during sexual intercourse, bleeding, organ perforation and urinary problems.

What Does The Verdict Mean To You?

Although J&J has said that it will appeal the decision, it does provide insight into how juries may react to similar cases pending in state and federal courts. Transvaginal mesh injury lawyers say that the companies may be forced to settle cases in the very near future to avoid the costs of litigation. It you’ve been injured by a transvaginal mesh implant device, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, to discuss your situation and determine if you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.