Hernia Mesh Class Action Lawsuit Updates – December 2025

November 4, 2025

• Bard MDL Cases Slightly Decline: The Bard Hernia Mesh MDL now has 23,932 pending cases, showing a small decrease of roughly 40 cases compared to last month.

October 2, 2025

• Ongoing Claims: There are 24,004 claims still active in the Bard MDL, with many plaintiffs awaiting the issuance of settlement payments.

September 1, 2025

• New Pre-Settlement Filing: A Massachusetts lawsuit claims a New Mexico man experienced complications after receiving Covidien’s Parietex Optimized Composite Mesh in 2021, requiring corrective surgery. The suit includes claims of defective design, failure to warn, negligence, fraud, breach of warranty, and emotional distress, seeking punitive damages.

August 21, 2025

• Settlement Deadline Extended: Judge Patti Saris gave Covidien and Medtronic four extra months for mediation, moving the deadline to January 14, 2026. The February 2026 bellwether trial remains the focal point for settlement pressure.

August 4, 2025

• MDL Case Count Context: As of August 1, there are 24,029 active Bard Hernia Mesh cases under Judge Edmund Sargus. New filings continue even after previous settlements, while distribution of funds has been slower than expected.

July 29, 2025

• Strattice Hernia Mesh Litigation: Plaintiffs are focusing on biologic mesh issues with Strattice, made from porcine tissue, which they claim causes infections and tissue deterioration despite being marketed as safer. The FDA received over 450 adverse event reports, including injuries and deaths. Federal proceedings are overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Wettre in New Jersey, with the first bellwether trial set for February 2026.

July 16, 2025

• New Covidien Lawsuit: A New Mexico woman filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts MDL against Covidien and Sofradim Production SAS. She alleges injuries from a Symbotex Composite Mesh requiring surgical intervention. The claims include defective design, failure to warn, manufacturing defects, and negligence, seeking punitive damages.

July 10, 2025

• Ongoing Bard Filings: New lawsuits continue, often connecting chronic pain to earlier mesh implants. Active settlement negotiations via the Inventory Settlement Process (ISP) are not scheduled until January 2027. Claimants unresolved by June 2029 can opt out for individual litigation.

June 2, 2025

• Minor MDL Decrease: The active Bard MDL cases slightly decreased to 24,074, reflecting ongoing filings and dismissals in the post-settlement period.

May 29, 2025

• Settlement Payments Timeline: Initial settlement distributions are anticipated in 2025, with larger payouts extending into following years.

May 15, 2025

• Settlement Overview: Approximately 38,000 lawsuits resolved, totaling over $1 billion. Quick-Pay options ($2,500–$25,000) and Traditional Pay options ($60,000–$100,000+) are available. Plaintiffs may opt out for individual litigation. Special Masters oversee the Qualified Settlement Fund (QSF).

May 1, 2025

• Post-Settlement Growth: The MDL expanded with 411 new cases, totaling 24,078, not included in prior settlements, signaling potential future compensation rounds.

February 4, 2025

• MDL Case Counts: Pending cases include Bard – 24,102, Covidien – 1,660, Atrium C-Qur – 500 (winding down), Ethicon Physiomesh – 16 (winding down).

January 22, 2025

• Qualified Settlement Fund Created: A QSF was established to manage settlements, ensuring proper distribution to eligible plaintiffs.

December 3, 2024

• Intensive Settlement Process (ISP): Case Management Order No. 55 starts the ISP, with Special Masters Ellen K. Reisman and John Jackson overseeing monthly settlement conferences starting January 2027. Cases unresolved by June 2029 can opt out.

November 27, 2024

• Settlement Masters Appointed: Judge Sargus assigned Ellen K. Reisman and John Jackson to oversee the ISP until all pending claims are resolved.

October 11, 2024

• Settlement Details Scarce: Official information remains limited, with rumors of an average payout of $65,000 over five years.

October 4, 2024

• Major Settlement Announced: Becton, Dickinson & Company (BD) reached a settlement resolving most Bard lawsuits in Rhode Island and Ohio courts.

October 1 – September 16, 2024

• MDL Developments: Over 100 new Bard IVC Filter cases added; surviving spouses allowed to replace deceased plaintiffs in joint lawsuits; settlement discussions continue.

August 6, 2024

• Caseload Growth: Bard MDL cases increased from 23,641 to 23,990 between July and August.

July 18, 2024

• Litigation Stay: Judge issued a stay on discovery and pretrial matters; plaintiffs can opt out for independent claims.

July 4, 2024

• Spike in Cases: Bard MDL cases jumped from 22,896 in June to 23,641 in July, likely influenced by settlement speculation.

June 30 – June 3, 2024

• Settlement & Case Updates: Firms filed motions to seal settlement terms; study flagged robotic hernia repair risks; Judge Sargus set June 24 as update deadline; 640 new cases added in May, totaling 22,896.

May – April 2024

• Mediation Orders: No new settlement news in May; April saw cancellation of the fourth bellwether trial and ordered mediation sessions.

February – March 2024

• Bellwether Trials & MDL Expansion: Bard achieved partial dismissal in the fourth test case; MDL cases grew to 21,262; mediation scheduled for March 25–26 with contingency plan if no settlement reached by May 24.

2024 Overview

As of January 2024, the C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh MDL includes more than 20,000 active cases, making it one of the largest mass tort litigations involving allegedly defective hernia mesh products. In the past six months, hundreds of additional lawsuits have been consolidated into the MDL. A resolution through settlement is anticipated later this year.

What Is Hernia Mesh?

Hernias can cause discomfort and pain, often prompting individuals to seek surgical treatment. A widely used solution involves hernia mesh implants. While these devices are intended to support healing, it’s important to recognize that, in certain cases, they may lead to complications. If you’ve had a hernia mesh implant and notice unusual symptoms, it’s crucial to understand how they could be related to your mesh repair.

Hernia mesh is a medical device designed to strengthen weakened or damaged tissue. During hernia repair surgery, the mesh is typically placed over the affected area to provide reinforcement and help prevent the hernia from returning. Although these implants aim to improve recovery outcomes, not all mesh products perform the same, and some patients may experience adverse effects.

Fill out the form on this page now for more information.

Unusual Symptoms After Hernia Surgery: When to Be Concerned

It’s normal to have some pain and discomfort as your body heals following hernia surgery. However, certain signs may indicate complications linked to her hernia mesh implant. Recognizing these warning signals is important to distinguish them from typical post-surgery recovery symptoms. Some key issues to monitor include:

• Ongoing Pain: Persistent or severe discomfort near the surgical site may signal a complication.
• Signs of Infection: Watch for redness, swelling, heat, or discharge around the incision area.
• Hernia Returning: A bulge or hernia appearing in the same spot could indicate recurrence.
• Digestive Issues: Severe constipation, bloating, or difficulty with bowel movements may point to obstruction.
• Mesh Problems: If the mesh shifts, contracts, or moves from its original position, it can cause pain or allow the hernia to reappear.

Types of Injuries Caused by Hernia Mesh

Discovering that a medical device intended to repair your hernia may be causing new problems can be alarming. Issues such as infections, mesh shifting, or ongoing pain may indicate that your hernia mesh isn’t functioning as expected. The FDA notes that some common complications associated with defective hernia mesh include:

• Adhesions: Scar-like tissue that causes organs or tissues to stick together, often resulting in pain or discomfort.
• Fistulas: Unusual connections forming between organs or blood vessels, which can create serious health risks.
• Perforations: Tears or holes in nearby organs or tissues caused by the mesh, posing significant medical concerns.
• Autoimmune Reactions: In rare cases, the body may respond negatively to the mesh, triggering systemic health issues.

Being aware of these warning signs and possible complications can help you take charge of your health and get prompt medical care when necessary.

Your Legal Pathway: Know Your Rights and Options

For many patients, hernia mesh implants were intended to provide a smoother, faster recovery after surgery. Unfortunately, some have experienced unexpected complications that disrupt their healing process. If you’ve suffered from persistent abdominal pain, bowel obstructions, or other serious side effects following hernia mesh surgery, you may qualify for substantial financial compensation. Speaking with an experienced attorney can help you understand your legal options and determine the best course of action.

Fill out the form on this page now for more information and let’s put you on the path to potential compensation. Act promptly—legal deadlines can limit your options. Your experience is important, and seeking justice for the harm you’ve suffered is fully warranted.

Mass Torts vs. Class Actions: A Quick Comparison

Mass torts and class action lawsuits are two different legal strategies for addressing cases in which numerous people are harmed by the same product, event, or entity.

Mass tort lawsuits allow multiple people who have been harmed by the same product or event to pursue legal action while keeping their individual cases separate. Imagine a neighborhood struck by a storm where each house suffers different damage. In a mass tort, each homeowner files their own lawsuit, but the court consolidates the cases for efficiency because the cause is the same. This approach ensures that each person’s unique injuries and circumstances are considered, giving them control over how their case is resolved.

In contrast, class action lawsuits consolidate many plaintiffs into a single legal case. Using the neighborhood analogy, it’s like all the homeowners joining together to sue after the storm, with one or a few individuals representing the group. In this setup, individual control is limited—decisions are made by the lead plaintiff and their attorneys on behalf of everyone involved. Any settlement or award is usually distributed according to a set formula, rather than reflecting each person’s specific damages.

Which option fits your situation best?

Here’s a quick overview of the key differences to help you determine which legal path may be best for your case:

• Control: Mass torts let you maintain more personal control over your case, while class actions place decision-making in the hands of the lead plaintiff and attorneys.
• Compensation: Damages in mass torts are tailored to each individual, whereas class action payouts are generally uniform or formula-based.
• Suitability: Mass torts are ideal when injuries vary widely among plaintiffs; class actions work best for similar or standardized damages.
• Efficiency: Class actions can streamline the process, often resolving claims faster and with fewer resources than handling multiple individual cases.

If you’ve been harmed alongside others and are weighing your legal options, ask yourself a few key questions: Do you want to retain control over your own case, or are you comfortable having a representative make decisions on your behalf? Are your damages unique enough to require individualized attention, or do they align closely with others, making a collective claim practical? Your answers can guide you in choosing whether a mass tort or a class action is the right approach for your situation.