A Pennsylvania state judge ordered the creation of a mass tort this week to collect product liability lawsuits filed over pelvic mesh products against some of the largest names in medical devices.
Judge Arnold New, director of the Complex Litigation Center at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, ordered Feb. 11 that "all currently filed pelvic mesh matters shall be transferred to the Complex Litigation Center Pelvic Mesh Mass Tort Program" for coordination, according to court documents.
Court records show 44 lawsuits awaiting classification in the mass tort, naming makers of the female urinary incontinence treatment including C.R. Bard (NYSE:BCR), Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary Ethicon.
Bard, Boston Scientific and Ethicon, plus Endo Health Solutions (NSDQ:ENDP), Cook Medical and Coloplast (CPH:COLO B), are facing thousands of product liability and personal injury lawsuits over their respective pelvic mesh devices. Cases against the companies have also been consolidated into multi-district litigation under Judge Joseph Goodwin of the U.S. District Court for Southern West Virginia.
New’s order in the Philly court also puts a stay on responsive pleading obligations "until such time as responsive pleading deadlines are established," according to the documents.
