New Tranvaginal Mesh MDL Created For Coloplast Implants

Yet another set of transvaginal mesh cases have been consolidated into an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, as the result of an order issued by a federal judicial panel at the beginning of August 2012. This latest transvaginal mesh MDL involves devices that were manufactured by Coloplast Corp.

The creation of the MDL means that all lawsuits in federal courts involving Coloplast transvaginal mesh will be consolidated before a single judge for the purposes of pre-trial issues such as discovery and motions. Then, each case will be transferred back to its original jurisdiction where the plaintiff will have the opportunity to try the case.

Currently, there are at least 65 lawsuits involving Coloplast mesh products that have been filed across the United States. These lawsuits allege defects in the design of transvaginal mesh products that are used to surgically repair pelvic organ prolapsed and stress urinary incontinence. Those defects, the plaintiffs allege, have led to pelvic pain, infections, protrusion of the mesh device, and a host of other complications.

The Coloplast MDL is only the latest in a string of federal cases related to transvaginal mesh products. Already in West Virginia (where these cases have been consolidated as well) there are four other MDLs involving C. R. Bard, Boston Scientific, Ethicon/Gynecare and American Medical System and their respective transvaginal mesh devices. A sixth MDL involving Mentor ObTape is before a Judge Land in The Middle District of Georgia.