Thousands of people are suing hernia mesh manufacturers over defective products that cause complications like organ damage, adhesions (internal scar tissue), inflammatory responses and more. In 2024, Becton Dickinson offered to settle 38,000 hernia mesh cases against its subsidiary, C.R. Bard. The exact terms of the hernia mesh settlement haven’t been revealed, but it’s estimated to be $1.7 billion. Although this litigation has been ongoing for years, and there have been settlements and jury verdicts, lawyers are still accepting cases. Currently, hernia mesh makers Covidien and C.R. Bard face more than 26,000 hernia mesh lawsuits, consolidated in two large groups of cases called multidistrict litigations (MDLs). In this Q&A, attorney Brett Vaughn, founding partner with the law firm Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn, discusses why people are suing hernia mesh manufacturers, what injuries people are suing for and what to expect if you file a hernia mesh lawsuit in 2025. Most hernia mesh devices are intended for permanent reinforcement of hernia defects and usually are made of polypropylene or polyester. Many suppliers of those raw materials have warned the medical device companies that those materials are not meant for implantation in the human body. These devices fail in multiple ways, including defective design and inappropriate use of raw materials, leading to serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries. Many of these hernia mesh products also have a resorbable coating intended to protect sensitive organs. However, the resorbable coatings do not work as advertised, leading to organ damage. People suffer a wide range of injuries from defective hernia mesh products, including but not limited to recurrence, chronic pain, infection, sepsis, adhesions, loss of testicle(s), bowel obstruction, bowel resections and even death. Companies involved in hernia mesh lawsuits include Covidien/Medtronic, Bard/Davol, Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson, Gore, Atrium and LifeCell. While some of the litigations have already settled, people continue to get injured from hernia mesh, and new cases are being filed every day. Even though some manufacturers have settled claims, they continue to sell the same hernia mesh products. Hernia mesh injuries can have serious impacts on people’s daily lives, making it difficult or impossible for them to care for their family, work, exercise or participate in many activities they normally would. This can lead to not only physical injury, but serious mental and/or financial strain as well. Every case and every mesh device are different, and settlements have varied from one litigation to the next. Jury awards in trials where the plaintiff prevailed have had a broad range, from $250,000 to $4,800,000. It is important to contact an experienced hernia mesh attorney right away. While factors vary depending on the type of mesh used, the state(s) where implant and injury occurred, etc., every case has a statute of limitations by which it must be filed in order to move forward. We also strongly encourage people who have experienced a hernia mesh injury to obtain copies of their medical records, including the ‘Implant Identification’ records, to expedite review of their potential claims. But it is most important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Hernia Mesh Lawsuits: Q&A with Attorney Brett Vaughn

Thousands of individuals are suing hernia mesh manufacturers over defective products that cause serious injuries such as organ damage, adhesions, chronic pain, infection, sepsis, bowel obstruction, and even death. In 2024, Becton Dickinson offered to settle 38,000 cases involving its subsidiary C.R. Bard, with an estimated settlement value of $1.7 billion. The litigation includes over 26,000 lawsuits consolidated into two multidistrict litigations (MDLs) involving companies such as Covidien/Medtronic, Bard/Davol, Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson, Gore, Atrium, and LifeCell. Despite settlements, manufacturers continue to sell the same products. Injuries vary widely and can lead to significant physical, mental, and financial strain. Jury awards range from $250,000 to $4,800,000, and plaintiffs are advised to consult experienced attorneys and obtain medical records, including implant identification records, to strengthen claims.