Hernia mesh litigation is gathering momentum in Ohio, with an increasing number of cases being filed. As of June 2019, over 4,600 hernia mesh lawsuits were pending in the federal court system, including over 2,000 cases related to the Ethicon Physiomesh (Johnson & Johnson) and almost 2,500 cases involving Bard mesh products. These numbers continue to rise as more patients experience complications—pain, infection, bowel perforation and obstruction, other organ damage, migration or shrinkage of the mesh—from hernia mesh products.
At Slater & Zurz LLP, our highly experienced product liability and personal injury lawyers believe that the manufacturers of defective hernia mesh products should be held accountable, both for disregarding patient safety and for marketing a product that worsens the condition that the product was intended to repair. If you or a loved one has suffered from hernia mesh-related complications, call or email us to schedule a free consultation to determine whether you have a winnable claim.
Although treatment is not always urgent, a hernia should be repaired to prevent complications.
A hernia occurs when an internal organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds the organ in place, creating a bulge under the skin. Hernias are most common in the abdomen but can occur in the upper thigh, belly button, or groin area. For example, a part of the intestines may break through a weakened area, such as a healed surgical incision, in the abdominal wall.
Some hernias don’t cause any symptoms and are discovered only during a medical exam for an unrelated purpose. The bulge can be painful when you cough, bend over or lift something heavy. A hernia will not improve on its own. For this reason, it is important to see a doctor if you suspect that you may have a hernia.
Although intended to benefit hernia patients, hernia mesh products haven’t always succeeded.
Hernia mesh products have been developed by various manufacturers for use in hernia repair surgery. These products have been used since the 1980s to support the weakened tissue and muscles surrounding the hernia. Hernia mesh is a lucrative area for medical product developers and manufacturers.
Typically, hernia mesh products are surgically implanted across the area surrounding the hernia. Tissue can grow into the mesh. The mesh helps hold damaged tissue together and strengthen the tissue as it heals.
The main reason doctors use hernia mesh is to prevent the hernia from coming back or recurring. Without mesh, there is a good chance that the hernia will recur—i.e., the weakened tissue will reopen, allowing internal tissue to bulge out again. However, with the mesh, there is a greater likelihood of other complications—some much worse than the untreated hernia. As noted above, the complications that tend to arise from hernia mesh products include pain, infection of the tissue and organs near the mesh, perforation and/or obstruction of the bowel, damage to other organs, and migration or shrinkage of the mesh. The mesh may stick to other organs, causing the organs to twist painfully.
We are accepting cases for hernia mesh complications in Ohio.
If you or a family member has suffered from complications related to hernia mesh implants after hernia repair surgery, you may be entitled to compensation. The Canton Personal injury lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP are currently accepting Ohio hernia mesh cases to help the victims receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries and damages resulting from these defective and dangerous devices. Call or email our team of dedicated professionals to schedule a free consultation to determine your or your family member’s rights. Our legal team will assess the facts of your case with reference to current law and recent outcomes in hernia mesh lawsuits and let you know the best way to proceed. We aren’t afraid of hard cases—our interest is to see that you receive everything to which you are entitled, to compensate you for the losses you have sustained.
See a doctor if you have symptoms of hernia mesh complications!
Symptoms of hernia mesh failure include abdominal pain, bruising, or swelling; chills; nausea; fever; vomiting; and inflammation, a lump, redness, or soreness near the surgery site. Some symptoms of hernia mesh failure may arise soon after the surgery during which the mesh was implanted. However, problems with implanted mesh may not develop until months or even years after the surgery. Patients relied on trusted companies like Johnson & Johnson and Bard, which stated that they had tested their products for safety. Ethicon Physiomesh—a product popular in Ohio—
had never been tested on humans and was withdrawn from the market after five years because of its high failure rate. Specifically, this product’s defects included premature breakdown or disintegration, failure to incorporate into the abdominal wall, sticking to the bowels, and folding over after implantation.
While the Ethicon Physiomesh was voluntarily withdrawn from the market, other hernia mesh products were recalled by the Food and Drug Administration. The Ethicon Proceed was recalled after it was found to degrade, shrink, disintegrate, and migrate throughout the body. The Composix Kugel Mesh by Bard Davol was recalled after it was found to disintegrate over time, migrate throughout the body, and puncture internal organs. The C-QUR by Atrium Medical was recalled because its coating caused severe side effects in some patients immediately, while other patients who initially tolerated the coating sustained internal organ damage as the coating separated from the mesh over time.
Call us now for a free hernia mesh injury consultation.
At Slater & Zurz LLP, personal injury attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights of Ohio residents harmed by dangerous and defective hernia mesh implants. These legal claims are complex, and you need experienced product liability and Hernia Mesh Attorneys on your side. We have extensive experience, a wealth of knowledge about Ohio laws, and all the necessary resources to aggressively pursue and obtain justice on your behalf. We want to win as badly as you do!
Ohio hernia mesh lawsuits are consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
In Ohio, hernia mesh lawsuits are consolidated in multidistrict litigation rather than brought as class action lawsuits. Class action suits are typically filed in the name of one or two victims (the “named plaintiffs”) on behalf of a large group of similarly situated victims. Multidistrict
litigation is designed to consolidate and expedite many similar claims while still addressing the unique details of each case. Compensation in MDL is determined individually on the merits of each case, based upon the extent of damages suffered by an individual claimant.
Our compassionate attorneys empathize with your concerns about filing a lawsuit when you may have never considered suing someone in your life. But the practical reality is that the medical and financial consequences of a defective medical product such as hernia mesh can be severe in the long term.
If you or a loved one has been injured by the use of a hernia mesh product, trust an experienced law firm dedicated to seeking compensation for victims of defective products—particularly when the defect is not visible to the victim.
Attorney Jim Slater, the managing partner of Slater & Zurz LLP, began his legal career over 40 years ago by insisting that a business client disclose and eliminate a potentially lethal defect in its products—even though taking that position could have cost him his job. More recently, he
has worked with other law firms seeking compensation for victims of “C-8,” a lethal cancer-causing chemical that Dow Chemical released into rivers and streams from which drinking water in Ohio and West Virginia originates.
At Slater & Zurz LLP, we take your health and safety seriously. Our personal injury attorneys have a proven record of success in handling personal injury and product liability cases. Sometimes we partner with other firms that specialize in particular cases to ensure that our clients are in the best position to recover from those who have caused them harm. Whether we handle your claim in-house or in partnership with another firm, you pay nothing unless we win or reach a favorable settlement of your claim.
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries as a result of a defective hernia mesh product, you can count on us to fully assess your claim, answer your questions, and advise you concerning the best way to proceed. Call or email the dedicated professionals on our team for a free consultation. We’re here to serve your legal needs with unwavering dedication and the drive to win.
