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By: Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq.

Published on May 2, 2017

A Pennsylvania state court jury in Philadelphia concluded that Johnson & Johnson’s TVT-Secur mesh, designed to treat incontinence in women, was defectively designed and caused Margaret “Peggy” Engleman’s injuries. The jury awarded her $2.5 million in compensatory damages for pain, suffering and economic loss and then punished J&J and its Ethicon unit with $17.5 million in punitive damages.

Ms. Engleman received the TVT-Secur transvaginal mesh implant in 2007 to treat her stress urinary incontinence (SUI).  SUI is a common medical issue, especially in women who have given birth; the mesh is supposed to support the urethra and prevent leaks. However, within one month of receiving the TVT-Secur implant, it failed, and Ms. Engleman began experience urinary incontinence again. Within a few months the mesh began to erode inside her body, causing her to experience severe pain. Despite undergoing three separate surgeries under general anesthesia to remove the eroded mesh, her doctors have been unable to remove it all, and she still experiences pain and urinary dysfunction to this day.

“I’m happy I could be a voice for other women,” Engleman said in a statement released after the verdict. “It’s been a nightmare, and I feel justice was truly served today.”

This is the third eight figure award against Johnson & Johnson in a pelvic mesh trial in Philadelphia.  A Toms River, New Jersey woman was awarded a $13.5 million mesh verdict in 2016, and an Indiana woman was awarded $12.5 million in 2015.

If you believe you have a vaginal mesh lawsuit, Thornton Law Firm’s pelvic mesh team represents women in claims against the major mesh manufacturers including Boston Scientific, Caldera, Coloplast, Cook Medical, C.R. Bard, Inc., Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson, Mentor Worldwide, and Sofradim/Covidien. If you have suffered side effects from your mesh implant, including but not limited to bleeding, mesh erosion, constant pain, mesh contraction, urinary problems, additional surgeries, infection, vaginal tightening, painful sexual intercourse, inability to engage in sexual intercourse, or organ perforation, you may have a claim for damages. 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  no-cost, completely confidential evaluation of your legal rights. The time limits for filing all legal claims are short. Do not delay seeking legal advice.