Defective Products Archives

A Large Number of Vehicle Recalls Expected in 2015

There were an unprecedented number of vehicle recalls in 2014, prompting many experts to call it “The Year of the Recall.” While the number of recalls in 2015 isn’t expected to match the record 63.9 million vehicles recalled in 2014, a recent study presented at the Automotive Warranty and Recall Symposium predicts another above average year.

According to the study, the main reason for this continued increased number of vehicle recalls is that the federal government is becoming more effective at identifying vehicle issues that need to be fixed via recall. Overall, this is a good sign for the improvement of vehicle safety moving forward.

Based in the report, it’s unlikely that we’ll see another year where one or two large issues dominate the recalls. Last year, defective Takata airbags comprised nearly 30% of all recalls, while GM ignition switch defects accounted for 20% of recalls. Instead, it’s expected that 2015 will see a larger number of recalls issued, but for smaller numbers of vehicles per recall.

The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mirrored the sentiments expressed by the report. “I think we could actually see an increase in the number of recalls. The reality is that means your system is working….I’d rather have people be preemptive than waiting too long and making a mistake, because you can’t save those lives after they’re gone.”

The NHTSA received $126 million in fines and penalties from vehicle manufacturers in 2014. This figure is more than the total amount they’ve collected in all other years combined, providing further evidence that the NHTSA is cracking down on vehicle safety issues.

If you’ve been injured a car accident caused by a defective auto, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. The attorneys at Golomb & Honik have decades of experience handling defective auto claims, and we have the vast resources to hold negligent auto manufacturers accountable for their actions.

Please contact Golomb & Honik using the form at the left side of the page or call 855-889-5389 today to schedule your defective auto consultation. We serve clients nationwide from our offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Filed Under: Defective Products, GM Recall, Product Liability, Takata Airbag Recall

Judge Upholds $1.75 Million Punitive Damage Award in Transvaginal Mesh Case

7:11 pm by golombhonik1

A federal judge denied a motion to reduce the $1.75 million punitive damage award against C.R. Bard Inc., the manufacturer of the Avaulta Plus transvaginal mesh device used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. The judge ruled to uphold the large punitive damage award since evidence demonstrated that Bard knew their transvaginal mesh product was dangerous, yet did nothing about it.

According to evidence presented in the trial, Bard knew that the polypropylene resin used to manufacture their transvaginal mesh device was dangerous because Phillips company, the makers of the resin material, explicitly warned Bard that it shouldn’t be used in permanently implanted medical devices. Phillips even refused to sell the material to Bard due to these risks. However, Bard purchased the resin from a different company and intentionally kept this fact a secret from Phillips.

Bard eventually stopped contacting the new supplier directly because the supplier refused to sell the resin material to Bard after learning it was being used in a dangerous way. In addition, evidence demonstrated that Bard:

Ignored recommendations from doctors and researchers stating that additional trials were needed before taking this product to market
Disregarded adverse results obtained on the tests that were conducted on their transvaginal mesh product, and failed to communicate these adverse results to doctors

Based on all of this evidence, the judge ruled that the high punitive damage award was appropriate due to Bard’s reckless disregard of information demonstrating their product’s potential to harm patients.

Bard is still facing several other class action lawsuits associated with their defective transvaginal mesh device. If you’ve suffered an injury due to this defective medical device, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The attorneys at Golomb & Honik have decades of experience handling these complex claims, and we have the vast resources necessary to achieve a successful outcome through litigation.

Please contact Golomb & Honik using the form at the left side of the page or call 855-889-5389 today to schedule your defective transvaginal mesh consultation. We serve clients nationwide from our offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Filed Under: Class Action, Defective Products, Product Liability

2.1 Million Vehicles Recalled for Second Time

7:05 pm by golombhonik1

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a recall of 2.1 million Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda vehicles to correct issues associated with a defect that results in an unintentional deployment of airbags when there is no car accident.

This is actually the second time these vehicles have been recalled for this defect. The first recall occurred between 2012 and 2014, but as many as 40 of these vehicles have been reported to still exhibit the defect after the initial recall. As a result, this new recall was initiated for precautionary measures.

The new recall covers the following vehicle models:

Acura MDX
Dodge Viper
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Liberty
Honda Odyssey
Pontiac Vibe
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Avalon

Vehicle owners will be notified of the recall shortly. You can learn more information by contacting your local dealer.

If you’ve been injured as a result of one of these defective autos, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. The attorneys at Golomb & Honik have decades of experience handling defective vehicle claims, and we’ll fight aggressively to protect your rights in court.

Filed Under: Defective Products

Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits on Hold due to Delayed Bellwether Trial

9:04 pm by Admin

All transvaginal mesh lawsuits against the TVM manufacturer, Ethicon, are currently on hold due to delays in the next bellwether trial. Over 65,000 TVM lawsuits are currently pending against TVM manufacturers, because their mesh slings caused complications and permanent injuries to women across the country. Before these lawsuits can be addressed, however, the third Ethicon bellwether trial must proceed. Unfortunately, the third bellwether trial, which was scheduled to start on December 4, 2014, has been postponed and rescheduled for March 2, 2015.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin is overseeing seven of the MDL’s involving transvaginal mesh slings, including Boston Scientific, Ethicon, American Medical Systems, Bard Avaulta, Coloplast, Cook Medical, and Neomedic. Multidistrict litigation is currently established for all those TVM manufacturers.

What is Multidistrict Litigation?

Multidistrict litigation is useful when numerous individuals share common grievances against a singular entity. In other words, when a corporation or manufacturer harms numerous patients in similar ways, MDLs are established so that they can share discovery. This also allows them to accelerate the early trial proceedings and avoid duplicate testimony, while preventing conflicting rulings. MDLs differ from class actions in that each case is treated singularly and awards are based on the individual’s injury and complications.

In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, there are presently 21,700 Ethicon lawsuits pending. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that the TVM sling led to serious complications, such as mesh erosion, extrusion, infection, and pain. Some patients have never fully healed from their injuries and some have been left with permanent disabilities.

The first two Ethicon bellwether trials against Ethicon have already been completed and resulted in very different verdicts. In the first bellwether trial, the jury found in favor of the defendant because they determined that the plaintiff did not present sufficient evidence. The second bellwether trial, however, was vastly different. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $3.27 million to the injured plaintiff. Due to the different verdicts in the first two Ethicon bellwether trials, all eyes are on this third trial. Until then, however, all plaintiffs that have filed vaginal mesh lawsuits will have to wait and see.

National Defective Medical Device Lawyers

If you have suffered complications as a result of your transvaginal mesh implant, you could have a case against the manufacturer. Call the defective medical device lawyers at Golomb & Honik today for a consultation and to learn about your legal options. Our goal is to get you the greatest maximum recovery for your physical and emotional suffering.

To learn more about your legal options or to schedule a free consultation call the Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Golomb & Honik today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national defective medical device lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Defective Products

Takata Defective Airbag President Steps Down

11:03 pm by Admin

The Takata defective airbag debacle has potentially affected more than 7.8 million U.S. vehicles, as automakers scramble to replace frontal air bags on the driver’s and/or passenger’s side. Takata, a major parts supplier, sold the airbags which were installed on vehicles from model year 2002 to 2008. These airbags can deploy in an explosive manner, injuring or even killing the occupants of the vehicle.

According to a Nissan spokesperson, “The propellant could potentially deteriorate over time due to environmental factors, which could lead to over-aggressive combustion in the event of an airbag deployment.” The airbags are particularly susceptible to error in high-humidity areas. When a defective airbag inflates in a crash, metal shards from the airbag may be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin. So far, there have been five fatalities and more than a hundred serious injuries linked to Takata airbags.

Stefan Stocker Steps Down

Very recently, Stefan Stocker, president of Takata stepped down, leaving Takata’s chairman to determine how to respond to the recall of millions of vehicles with defective airbags. Stocker, a Swiss national and Takata’s first foreign president, will remain with the company as a board member. Shigehisa Takada, grandson of the company founder, will retain his title as chairman and step into the role of president, vacated by Stocker. Stocker was hired last year to increase oversight in Takata’s global operations. Takata, owned primarily by the founding family, has been widely criticized for the way it has handled the airbag safety crisis. The company now faces dozens of class action lawsuits, not to mention a U.S. criminal investigation. While there have been nearly 8 million Takata airbags recalled in the U.S., more than 24 million have been recalled worldwide.

Takata’s Agreement, Automakers Response

Takata has agreed to take a 50 percent pay cut for four months in response to the airbag crisis; Stocker and three other senior staff members will also take a cut in pay for those four months, although the details of those pay cuts are sketchy. All the deaths associated with Takata airbags occurred in automobiles manufactured by Honda. General Motors has developed contingency plans to shift their business to other airbag manufacturers should the recall widen. In fact, GM intends to direct Takata to “share” manufacturing details with TRW and Autoliv so that replacement parts made by other airbag manufacturers would work with Takata airbags. According to a December 18^th statement, Ford is adding an additional 447,310 vehicles to the recall, bringing the company in compliance with the NHTSA’s call for a nationwide recall.

Takata’s Response

Takata maintains the aging of the airbags, particularly in regions with high humidity, is to blame for the potentially deadly results. Takata also stated they would increase their production of replacement units at their Monclova, Mexico plant by nearly a third. This increase would result in an output of nearly 450,000 replacement airbags per month. Some automakers, however, are refusing to wait that long to replace the airbags for their customers. Takata’s largest customer, Honda, has already signed a deal with Autoliv to begin manufacturing replacement airbag parts. BMW disclosed Takata would shift airbag production for the automaker’s vehicles to its plant in Germany. The CEO of Nissan declined to comment on Takata’s response to the airbag crisis.

Was Takata Aware of the Flaws in the Airbags?

According to a New York Times report on November 7^th, Takata was fully aware of the potentially deadly defects associated with their airbags years before papers were filed with federal regulators. The Times stated Takata began secretly testing the airbags for flaws more than four years before officials claimed they were testing the airbags. The Times also reported that after three months of testing the airbags in 2004, Takata’s internal research was abruptly halted and all research materials destroyed. It remains to be seen just how widespread the Takata airbag incident really is. To find out whether your car is one of the millions affected, you can go to http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/vin-lookup-sites and enter your car’s VIN number.

Contact National Product Liability Attorneys

Golomb & Honik has filed a class action against the air bag manufacturer Takata Corporation and multiple car manufacturers. If your vehicle’s airbag was recently part of the 14 million Takata airbag recalls, contact defective automobile product attorney at Golomb & Honik immediately. We have extensive experience handing large class action lawsuits and our firm has the resources needed to take large automobile manufacturers to trial. Call us at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national product liability lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Defective Products, Takata Airbag Recall

Takata Believes Evidence Doesn’t Support National Recall

9:01 pm by golombhonik1

A December 3^rd news report stated Takata Corporation defied a U.S. safety agency’s demand for a recall of potentially deadly driver’s side airbags. This refusal to recall the airbags leaves many motorists worried about the safety of their vehicle, and also potentially sets the stage for governmental legal actions and sanctions. Takata claims their own internal testing supports issuing recalls only in areas with extremely high humidity, such as along the Gulf Coast. The driver’s side airbags have been found to explode with extreme force, sending shrapnel shards into the passenger compartment, and resulting in at least five deaths and dozens of serious injuries. In addition, thousands of consumers are now driving cars with defective airbags that have decreased the value of their vehicles drastically.

U.S. Officials Want Recall Extended to all Fifty States—Takata Balks

On November 26^th, the United States demanded the recall be extended to all 50 states; Honda, one of Takata’s biggest customers, agreed to such a recall, however other car manufacturers have not yet followed Honda’s lead. Thus far, nearly 14 million vehicles, worldwide, have been recalled. Approximately 8 million of those occurred in the United States. If Takata agrees to a nationwide recall, at least another 8 million U.S. vehicles would be added to the recall list. Takata officials maintain prolonged exposure to airborne moisture causes the inflator propellant to burn to fast and explode with too much force. Takata has also contended the U.S. only has authority to demand a recall from auto manufacturers—such as Honda—but not from the original suppliers of vehicle parts.

The NHTSA calls Takata’s refusal to recall all the airbags “disappointing,” and is now determining what steps will be taken in response to the refusal. Civil fines up to $35 million can be imposed on Takata as well as legal action taken against the company. The NHTSA stated drivers had been injured by the defective airbags in states outside the recall zones, specifically California and North Carolina. Takata, however, seems to have dug in its heels, saying it tested 1,057 driver and passenger inflators taken from vehicles outside the high-humidity zones and none of them had ruptured. Honda, Toyota and BMW executives testified at the Congressional hearing and assured the panel that cars not subject to the current recall—even if they had a Takata airbag—were perfectly safe to drive.

Can Takata Financially Handle an Expanded Recall?

Despite this assurance, Toyota and Honda have been calling for an industry-wide investigation regarding the dangerous airbags, but had no immediate comments related to Takata’s refusal to recall the airbags in all fifty states. A Nissan Motor Co. spokesman also had no comment after stating the problems are still being investigated. Toyota has asked the industry to hire an independent engineering company to determine how dangerous the airbags really are, and General Motors, Nissan, Subaru, Chrysler and Ford have agreed with that recommendation. If Takata agrees to a nation-wide recall of the airbags, vehicles may by Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Mazda and BMW, mostly 2008 models and earlier, could be affected. Since there are more than 100 million Takata airbags worldwide, and more than 30 million in the U.S. alone, there is concern over whether Takata can financially handle such a large recall.

Some Auto Manufacturers Expand their Original Recalls

On December 4^th, Chrysler, Ford and Toyota expanded the recall of vehicles which come with Takata airbags. Chrysler’s recall included the passenger-side airbags of nearly 150,000 Ram pickups, although the recall remains regional—Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii and Georgia. The NHTSA stated that Chrysler’s recall was insufficient, failing to cover all inflators covered by Takata’s defect report.

Contact Product Liability Lawyers

Golomb & Honik is currently seeking owners of recalled vehicles to serve as class action representatives in statewide and nationwide class action lawsuits against Takata and vehicle manufacturers. Car owners across the country are filing lawsuits in class action cases to obtain compensation for the decreased value of their vehicle. To learn more about your legal options or to schedule a free consultation call the Pennsylvania defective product lawyers at Golomb & Honik today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national product liability lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Defective Products, Takata Airbag Recall

Takata and Honda Subjected to Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Destroyed Documents and Defects

4:02 pm by Admin

Takata, the manufacturer of millions of airbags across the world, recently refused to take the recommendation of the NHTSA to expand the recall outside of high-humidity areas, stating airbags in other states, which were not subjected to excessive humidity, were perfectly safe. Approximately 8 million vehicles have been recalled in the United States, and if Takata agrees to a nationwide recall, another 8 million will be recalled as well. Takata officials stubbornly maintain that only prolonged exposure to airborne moisture is the cause of the defective airbags which can explode with excessive force, spraying shrapnel into the passenger area. The airbags have been implicated in at least five deaths and dozens of serious injuries.

Honda Named as Co-Defendant in Lawsuits

Prior to Takata’s refusal to expand the recall of potentially deadly airbags, several dozen lawsuits were filed seeking class-action status against Takata. These complaints allege Takata was well aware of the defects associated with the airbags as far back as 2004—a good four years prior to the first recall—and that those records were deliberately destroyed. Honda, Takata’s largest customer, was named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit. Approximately six million of the recalled vehicles are made by Honda. The lawsuit is asking for monetary damages and other relief for any consumer who bought a new or used Honda vehicle. According to the New York Times, Takata conducted secret testing of the airbags in 2004 after an Alabama driver suffered serious injury when a Takata airbag ruptured, spraying tiny metal fragments at the driver with explosive force.

Testing Reveals Serious Flaws in Airbags Which Some Claim Were Cheaply Made

Takata’s test results revealed cracks in the steel canisters which housed the rapid inflation system of the airbag, compromising the structural integrity. Rather than initiate recalls and safety protocols once the test results were in, Takata apparently had the evidence of the tests destroyed, down to the computer backup files and all video footage. A number of internal memos and documents that indicated Takata was aware of the airbag problems for years have also come to light. U.S. regulatory agencies were totally unaware of the potential safety hazards associated with the airbags until 2008, when the first recall was issued.

Honda Agreed to Ignore Tests Which Showed Takata Airbags Were Dangerous

Honda was also made aware of the Takata test results in 2004, yet agreed with Takata officials that the test results—as well as the exploded airbag in the Alabama case—were nothing more than “anomalies,” and agreed with Takata to ignore the evidence. This decision potentially endangered the lives of consumers across the United States. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed and have been submitted for consideration to federal judges who are currently weighing a request to consolidate all Takata airbag cases in a Miami U.S. court.

Is a Criminal Investigation Against Takata by the United States Likely?

The reports that Takata concealed and destroyed test results associated with the Takata airbags may require a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in addition to the civil suits filed against the company.

Contact National Product Liability Lawyers

Golomb & Honik has filed lawsuits covering several states and is currently seeking owners of recalled vehicles to serve as class action representatives in statewide and nationwide class action lawsuits against Takata and vehicle manufacturers. If you are the owner of such a car, we believe that the vehicle you have purchased or leased is defective and therefore of diminished value. To learn more about your legal options or to schedule a free consultation call the Pennsylvania defective product lawyers at Golomb & Honik today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national product liability lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Class Action, Defective Products, Takata Airbag Recall

Use of Cheap Airbag Propellant may have Caused Takata Defects

9:04 pm by golombhonik1

The legal challenges that vehicle airbag manufacturer Takata is facing continue to get more complex. In an article recently published on the New York Times’ website entitled “Takata’s Switch to Cheaper Airbag Propellant Is at Center of Crisis,” it is revealed that former Takata engineers had concerns about using a “risky compound” in its airbag propellant. Yet the company produced the dangerous airbags anyway and installed them in millions of vehicles.

In 2001, Takata switched from a compound called tetrazole, which was known to be effective and reliable in airbags, to a formula called ammonium nitrate. However, it has been revealed that ammonium nitrate is sensitive to moisture and fluctuations in temperature. It also breaks down over time. When it breaks down, it can create a violent combustion.

Today, Takata airbags are being recalled because they can explode with a violent force if they are deployed during a car accident. The result of the explosion can cause metal debris to fly into the car’s cabin. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a Takata airbag, the defective auto lawyers at Golomb & Honik can help.

The situation with Takata airbags is serious. In fact, there have been at least five deaths associated with the defective airbags. When people purchase vehicles that contain airbags, they assume this important safety feature will protect them if they are involved in a car accident. In the case of the recalled airbags manufactured by Takata, the company did not do everything possible to ensure its products were safe before allowing them to be installed in millions of vehicles. This is unacceptable, and the attorneys at Golomb & Honik are committed to holding Takata accountable for their negligent and reckless actions.

If you were injured by a Takata airbag, please contact Golomb & Honik today to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients nationwide from our offices in Philadelphia.

Filed Under: Defective Products, Takata Airbag Recall

Arizona Sues GM for Ignition-Switch Fraud

12:43 am by Admin

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has filed a complaint on behalf of the residents of Arizona which would make it the first state to join the group of consumers who are already suing General Motors. The state is suing GM over faulty ignition switches, claiming the auto manufacturer misinformed the public about the safety of its vehicles, swindling them of $3 billion.

For violation of the consumer-fraud law, Horne is requesting civil penalties amounting to $10,000 paid for each of the hundreds of thousands of GM automobiles sold in Arizona. His complaint falls on the heels of a similar one filed by Orange County, California in the interest of its residents, and is just one of over 150 suits GM has been plagued with thus far. Although they have not sued yet, a minimum of nine additional state attorneys general have collaborated to investigate GM’s behavior.

The term “New GM” was coined after the company’s restructuring in 2009 following a government bailout. In order to navigate around one judge’s ban on holding “New GM” accountable for mistakes made by “Old GM”, Horne is targeting alleged knowledge of defects in his complaint. Defects that “New GM” had knowledge of and, Horne claims, violated state consumer-fraud laws and cost Arizona car buyers hundreds of thousands of dollars in excessive automobile value depreciation.

Horne’s complaint, however, is similar to allegations brought by consumers in Manhattan Federal Court and may very well be joined with those complaints despite his intent to keep his in Arizona. GM is currently petitioning to have the Orange County complaint moved to Manhattan as well.

General Motors Recalls

In the U.S. alone, GM has already recalled more cars this year than it has sold in the five years since the restructuring of the company after filing bankruptcy, and expects to pay upwards of $1.7 billion on repairs and loaner cars to deal with the situation.

The automaker recalled 2.6 million of its compact sedan, the Chevrolet Cobalt after it manufactured the vehicle for over a decade with knowledge of a faulty ignition switch. At least 13 deaths have been attributed to the faulty switch which can easily be turned off while the car is on the road, disabling power steering and safety features such as airbags.

In May 2014, GM recalled 218,000 subcompact cars sold as the Chevy Optra here in the U.S. A daytime running lamp was to blame for overheating and causing an unspecified number of vehicle fires.

Worldwide, GM has recalled 15.8 million vehicles in 2014.

National Defective Product Lawyers

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries or damages due to a defective GM product, you may be able to file a lawsuit. GM owners across the country are filing lawsuits in class action cases. To learn more about your legal options or to schedule a free consultation call the Philadelphia defective product lawyers at Golomb & Honik today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national product liability lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Defective Products

Transvaginal Mesh Verdicts Encouraging for Plaintiffs

12:39 am by Admin

In November 2014, two different juries handed down back-to-back awards for plaintiffs in transvaginal mesh lawsuits against the Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific Corp. While this is certainly encouraging news for plaintiffs, the consecutive losses in the first two federal trials for the company could potentially drive up the cost for settling the thousands of similar lawsuits pending. Currently, there are over 24,000 mesh claims in U.S. state and federal courts pending against Boston Scientific.

A Miami jury awarded $26.7 million to four women fitted with Boston Scientific’s Pinnacle device designed to alleviate pelvic organ prolapse. Only one week later, a jury in West Virginia awarded $18.5 million in damages to four women implanted with the company’s Obtryx stress urinary continence device. The award included $4 million for “gross negligence.”

Of the damages awarded by these juries, large percentages were compensatory damages. The purpose of compensatory damages is to reimburse a plaintiff for financial losses related to their injury- for example, lost income and medical expenses. Typically, compensatory damages are a dependable indicator of the value of similar claims, and will withstand the appeals process better than punitive damages, those designed to punish a defendant, which are subjective in nature. This could be especially unpleasant for Boston Scientific’s bottom line.

Each plaintiff in the Miami verdict received between $6.5million and $6.7 million, whereas each women in the West Virginia trial received between $3.25 million and $4.25 million in compensatory damages. And while the amount of compensation varies with each case, it is noteworthy that different juries awarded millions to each plaintiff.

The outcomes of bellwether trials do not ensure each women will win her case. However, they do indicate to plaintiffs and defendants how juries determine the worth of the cases, and this information is crucial in establishing a settlement value for the other claims. Furthermore, large verdicts give companies incentive to settle out of court. U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin in the Southern District of West Virginia, who is supervising the federal mesh cases, is attempting to expedite the settlement process by trying cases with several plaintiffs and mandating that hundreds more suits are ready for trial as early as next year.

Boston Scientific is only one of seven companies facing approximately 67,000 federal mesh cases. Other defendants include C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Inc., all of whom have experienced a combination of wins and losses.

Boston Scientific, who reportedly has $945 million in litigation reserves, plans to appeal the verdicts and declined further comment.

National Transvaginal Mesh Litigation Lawyers

If you or someone you love has suffered medical complications after receiving a transvaginal mesh implant, you may still be able to file a lawsuit. To learn more about your rights and legal options, call the Philadelphia dangerous medical device lawyers at Golomb & Honik today. Our experienced national litigation lawyers have represented women and their families across the United States in their quest for justice. To learn more about transvaginal mesh litigation or to schedule a free consultation call the Philadelphia class action lawyers at Golomb & Honik today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.

The national class action lawyers at Golomb & Honik have successfully represented individuals and their families in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and throughout the United States.

Filed Under: Blog, Class Action, Defective Products

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