On Friday, April 28th, a Philadelphia jury awarded a $20-million verdict to a South Jersey woman who endured permanent, painful, and life-altering injuries caused by Ethicon pelvic-mesh.
The verdict, which includes $2.5 million in compensatory damages and the remaining $17.5 million in punitive damages, was the third of three plaintiff verdicts awarded in three Ethicon mesh cases to go to trial in Philadelphia.
The Case
Plaintiff Margaret “Peggy” Engleman brought her case against Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, after having Ethicon’s TVT-Secur mesh implanted to help treat stress urinary incontinence. Just two months after it was implanted, her doctor discovered that the material was eroding within her body. The erosion caused severe pain and eventually required three additional surgeries to remove the mesh material. Portions of the mesh, however, still remain in her body causing her to develop chronic pain and urinary dysfunction.
Engleman’s attorneys allege that the TVT-Secur mesh implants were, “defective in design, warnings, and instructions” and that Johnson & Johnson released the product to the public despite knowledge of the significant risk of deterioration. The jury agreed that the mesh was defective and that Ethicon failed to warn patients of the serious risks. An attorney for Ms. Engleman said, “Their punitive damages award is a reflection, we believe, of how despicable this conduct was, how offensive this was.”
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Ethicon expressed the company’s disagreement with the verdict and alluded to plans for appeal.
Additional verdicts agaisnt Ethicon handed up by Philadelphia juries include $13.5 million in 2016 ($3.5M compensatory, $10M punitive) and $12.5 million in 2016.
New Jersey and Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers
The Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases involving pharmaceutical and drug product injuries. Our extremely skilled team of personal injury lawyers and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you have suffered an injury as a result of a mesh implant, a defective pharmaceutical drug product, or any other type of personal injury, contact the personal injury lawyers of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.
