By: Marilyn T. McGoldrick, Esq.

Posted on February 12, 2016

A Philadelphia jury has awarded $13.5 million to Sharon Carlino who claimed permanent damages from an Ethicon TVT midurethral sling mesh implant. This was the second verdict against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit in a pelvic mesh case. In December a jury awarded $12.5 million against J&J for injuries caused by another mesh product, the Ethicon ProLift pelvic organ prolapse repair kit.

The jury found that the TVT (Trans Vaginal Tape) mesh sling was not reasonably safe, and that the plaintiff’s surgeon would never have used it had he been warned of the risks. The jury awarded $3.5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages to Mrs. Carlino. $250,000 was awarded to her husband for injury to their marital relationship.

Sharon Carlino was implanted with the TVT mesh implant in 2005 to treat her stress urinary incontinence (SUI). She had sharp pains in her vagina and in 2007 and 2010 her doctor performed surgery to remove exposed mesh. Despite the surgeries Carlino continues to have pain to this day.

Ethicon has indicated that it will appeal the verdict.

Thornton Law Firm’s transvaginal mesh team represents women in claims against Boston Scientific, Caldera, Coloplast, Cook Medical, C.R. Bard, Inc., Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson, Mentor Worldwide, and Sofradim/Covidien. If you have a mesh implant and have experienced any side effects, including but not limited to mesh erosion, bleeding, persistent pain, mesh contraction, urinary problems, additional surgeries, infection, vaginal tightening or shortening, painful sexual intercourse, inability to engage in sexual intercourse, or organ perforation, please call attorney Marilyn McGoldrick at our toll free number 888-341-1405, or tell us your story using our online contact form for a free, confidential evaluation of your legal rights. The time limits for filing all legal claims are short. Do not delay seeking legal advice.