Cook Medical Transvaginal Mesh Cases Consolidated

The number of lawsuits against makers of transvaginal mesh (TVM) systems continues to increase, and in a new development, Cook Medical, Inc. cases have now been combined into a multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of West Virginia - MDL No. 2440.

The Cook Medical TVM lawsuits allege that the devices cause pain and suffering to women due to defects and lack of accurate warnings.

The transfer order from the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, identified thirteen actions which involve “common questions of fact,” adding that centralization will offer convenience to parties and witnesses and will “promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.” It also notes than 42 actions had originally been encompassed in the motion, 27 of which were pending. 25 of those cases have now been dismissed or no longer named Cook specifically as a defendant. The remaining two have already been transferred as part of separate MDLs.

Coordination will be handled by Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, who is also overseeing Bard Avaulta mesh cases, American Medical System (AMS) mesh cases, Ethicon Gynecare mesh cases, Boston Scientific pelvic mesh cases, and Coloplast sling lawsuits.

The Cook Medical TVM lawsuits allege that the devices cause pain and suffering to women due to defects and lack of accurate warnings. Systems include the Surgisis Biodesign Tension-Free Urethral Sling, Surgisis Biodesign Anterior Pelvic Floor Graft, Surgisis Biodesign Posterior Pelvic Floor Graft, Cook Urological Stratasis Urethral Sling and Stratasis Tension Free Urethral Sling.