Johnson and Johnson to pay state $9.9 million for deception over surgical mesh devices

Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office today announced that Johnson and Johnson will pay $9.9 million to avoid going to trial for misrepresentations and failure to include serious risks in the instructions and marketing materials for surgical mesh devices.

Ferguson is the first state attorney general to file a lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson regarding surgical mesh devices.

Approximately 14,000 Washington women had these devices implanted. While precise information is not available, the Attorney General’s Office believes hundreds of those have been adversely impacted so far, ranging from having to go back for another procedure, to having their quality of life impacted dramatically.

The trial was scheduled to begin today.

In May 2016, Ferguson filed a lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson asserting that the multi-billion dollar corporation violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by failing to include several serious, life-altering risks associated with its surgical mesh devices in materials for patients and doctors.

Washington women experienced pain, suffering, and life-altering complications that Johnson and Johnson knew were associated with its devices, including chronic pain, pain with sexual intercourse, and numerous urinary issues. Furthermore, the mesh is very difficult and sometimes impossible to remove.

To avoid trial, Johnson and Johnson will pay $9.9 million. Today, Ferguson announced the payment will be used to assist women who received pelvic mesh implants. This is in addition to any recovery they receive in a personal injury lawsuit. Many lawsuits have been filed across the country regarding these devices.

Assistant Attorneys General Daniel Allen and Breena Roos are lead attorneys on the case, assisted by Assistant Attorneys General Katharine Barach, Heidi Anderson, Beth Howe, Patricia Bower and Jeffrey Grant.