What the Lawsuits Allege
Transvaginal mesh, also called pelvic or vaginal mesh, is a synthetic device surgically implanted to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence in women. Lawsuits against manufacturers including Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson subsidiary, Bard, Boston Scientific, Coloplast, and American Medical Systems, allege the devices were rushed to market without adequate testing and caused serious complications, including mesh erosion through vaginal tissue, chronic pain, infection, and organ perforation, and that manufacturers failed to adequately warn patients and physicians of these risks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ultimately banned mesh products specifically marketed for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse in April 2019, citing insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness for that use. That regulatory action followed years of complaints and lawsuits and is frequently cited in ongoing litigation.
The Scale of the Litigation and Settlements
More than 100,000 lawsuits were filed between roughly 2010 and 2022, consolidated into seven federal multidistrict litigations centered in the Southern District of West Virginia. Combined, manufacturers have paid more than 8 billion dollars in settlements and jury verdicts to resolve claims, including hundreds of millions of dollars each from Bard, Boston Scientific, Coloplast, and Ethicon, along with tens of millions more in state attorney general settlements over deceptive marketing.
By 2022, the original federal MDLs had closed. Reported jury verdicts along the way have ranged widely, from roughly 2 million dollars up to over 100 million dollars in individual cases, though large verdicts have sometimes been reduced or overturned on appeal, and average settlement amounts across the litigation have generally been reported in the range of roughly 40,000 to 450,000 dollars depending on injury severity.
Where Things Stand Today
Litigation has not ended. Hundreds of cases against Ethicon and Bard remain active in coordinated state court proceedings in New Jersey, with ongoing discovery deadlines, trial dates, and individual settlements continuing to be reported through 2026. Some plaintiffs attorneys report that standalone state court cases, rather than the closed federal MDL process, are now yielding stronger results because they allow more individualized evidence and jury sympathy compared with the averaging effect of a large consolidated settlement.
New cases continue to be filed by women who discover complications years after implantation, since a legal principle called the discovery rule can extend the filing deadline in many states from when a complication is actually connected to the device, rather than from the date of the original surgery. Because filing deadlines vary significantly and can be short in some states, an individual case evaluation with an attorney is the practical next step for someone newly diagnosed with a mesh-related complication.
How to Get Legal Help
If you had a transvaginal or pelvic mesh implant and experienced complications such as mesh erosion, chronic pain, or organ perforation, gathering your surgical records identifying the exact device and manufacturer is the first step. A product liability attorney can evaluate whether you have a viable individual claim and explain the filing deadline that applies in your state, since the discovery rule may extend your window if you only recently connected your symptoms to the device.
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Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit: Current Status and Settlements: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this case and your legal options.
What is the vaginal mesh lawsuit about?
Lawsuits against manufacturers of transvaginal and pelvic mesh implants, alleging the devices were inadequately tested and caused complications like mesh erosion, chronic pain, and organ perforation, with insufficient warning to patients and physicians.
Did the FDA ban vaginal mesh?
The FDA banned mesh products specifically marketed for transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse in April 2019, citing insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness for that specific use.
Is the litigation over?
Federal multidistrict litigation closed by 2022, but hundreds of cases remain active in New Jersey state court against Ethicon and Bard, with ongoing discovery, trials, and settlements continuing through 2026, and new cases are still being filed.
How much have settlements totaled?
Manufacturers have paid more than 8 billion dollars combined in settlements and jury verdicts since the litigation began, with individual settlements typically reported in the range of roughly 40,000 to 450,000 dollars depending on injury severity.
Can I still file a claim?
Possibly. New filings continue, particularly under the discovery rule, which can extend the filing deadline in many states from when a complication is connected to the device rather than the original surgery date. An attorney can evaluate your specific timeline and state deadline.