C.R. Bard ($BCR) has settled with a North Carolina woman who claimed the company's vaginal mesh implant left her with serious injuries, agreeing to fork over an undisclosed amount as thousands of lawsuits wait in the wings.
As Bloomberg reports, the latest settlement follows last week's West Virginia verdict in which Bard has to pay out $2 million to a plaintiff with similar claims, and the New Jersey device giant is still on the line for roughly 8,000 more lawsuits related to its Avaulta implant. Bard is working through the docket piece-by-piece, and the settlement isn't part of an overarching resolution of its pending suits, a spokesman told the news service.
"This is a large, complex litigation, and Bard will consider each case based on the facts and merits," he said. "We will continue to vigorously defend against all other lawsuits involving Avaulta."
Bard took a $275.1 million litigation charge last quarter as it deals with Avaulta suits around the country. Plaintiffs claim the implant left them with organ damage, bladder spasms, bleeding and pain, all while Bard maintains that its FDA-cleared device is safe and effective.
The company has said it plans to appeal the $2 million verdict. Bard lost its first Avaulta case last year, ordered by a California jury to pay out $3.6 million.
Boston Scientific ($BSX), Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) and Endo Health Solutions ($ENDP) are in similar waters, facing thousands of lawsuits over their vaginal mesh products and losing millions in settlements and court-mandated awards over the past 12 months.
- read the Bloomberg story