What is Vaginal Mesh?

Similar to the surgical mesh used to treat hernias, vaginal mesh is a synthetic netting used to help support pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus, and intestines.  Women with POP or SUI often have weak pelvic muscles that cannot support these organs.  Treatment may include surgery with vaginal mesh to help restore and maintain the organ’s original position in the body.

2011 Vaginal Mesh FDA Warning

In 2008, the FDA released a vaginal mesh FDA warning, alerting healthcare professionals to vaginal mesh side effects like erosion and bleeding.  On July 13, 2011, the FDA released a vaginal mesh warning.  The FDA warning stated that serious vaginal mesh side effects were not rare, and that the agency was no longer clear whether treatment with vaginal mesh was more effective than traditional treatment methods. 

At the time of the second vaginal mesh FDA warning, the agency also announced that it planned to conduct an advisory panel meeting to determine whether vaginal mesh products should remain on the market.  In September, the FDA panel recommended reclassifying vaginal mesh products as high-risk devices that require human testing before approval.  The panel also suggested the FDA require additional studies on those mesh products already on the market.

Manufacturers of Vaginal Mesh Under Fire for Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

Vaginal mesh manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson (J&J), C. R. Bard, Ethicon Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., American Medical Systems, and others were among those who received letters from the FDA that detailed the request for additional studies.  All of these companies are currently involved in vaginal mesh lawsuits that allege responsibility for failing to warn of serious vaginal mesh side effects.

The FDA letter requested a total of 33 manufacturers to conduct three years of trials on vaginal mesh safety and effectiveness.  The FDA also asked for data on the results and potential complications of vaginal mesh procedures.  All companies are required to submit study plans to the FDA in the near future.

A Vaginal Mesh Lawyer May be Able to Help

Chaffin Luhana LLP has a long and successful history of protecting the rights of those affected by the serious side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. Partners Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana represent clients in high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the country and have recovered millions in compensation for injured consumers. Though unable to guarantee results, the firm has a distinguished track record of success and is highly committed to each case.

If you or a loved one has been injured by vaginal mesh or has suffered from vaginal mesh side effects, you may be eligible for compensation.  Contact Chaffin Luhana LLP today and speak with a vaginal mesh lawyer for a free confidential case evaluation at 1-888-480-1123.

The first vaginal mesh FDA approval for a POP-repair product was in 2001, but no clinical trials were required at the time, and since then, reports of serious vaginal mesh complications have continued to increase. Erosion, bleeding, infections, organ perforation, urinary problems, and recurrence of POP have all been linked with vaginal mesh POP repair, with many requiring additional surgeries that may or may not correct the problems. In July 2011, the FDA issued a safety communication warning patients and physicians that complications with vaginal mesh were not rare, and that so far, vaginal mesh POP repair had not been found to be superior to traditional methods of repair.

The ACOC and the AUGS now recommend that doctors think twice before using vaginal mesh, and inform patients of the serious risks as well as of alternative types of repair. In addition, both organizations state there is an urgent need for a national registry that would track outcomes for all current and future vaginal mesh POP repair surgeries, to allow for continued audit and review. Finally, they make it clear that any new mesh products should be approved only when they can demonstrate their safety and efficacy through clinical trials.

Chaffin Luhana LLP has a long and successful history of protecting the rights of those affected by the serious side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. Partners Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana represent clients in high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the country and have recovered millions in compensation for injured consumers. Though unable to guarantee results, the firm has a distinguished track record of success and is highly committed to each case.

If you or a loved one has suffered a vaginal mesh injury related to vaginal mesh POP repair, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP for a free and confidential case review at 1-888-480-1123.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. The organization uses a multi-phase rating process involving independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations to choose those attorneys who are best able to represent individuals. After examining the Super Lawyer selection process, the New Jersey Supreme Court reported that the “procedures are very sophisticated, comprehensive and complex.”

The Super Lawyers research staff looks for attorneys who have attained certain honors, then evaluates them on professional achievements such as verdicts and settlements, experience, special licenses and certifications, pro bono and community service, scholarly lectures and writing, representative clients, and more. The selection process for the Rising Stars is similar, though restricted to those candidates younger than 40 years old who have been in practice for 10 years or less. The final list of both Super Lawyers and Rising Stars is printed in the Super Lawyers magazine and in leading city and regional magazines across the country as a guide for those individuals seeking quality representation.

Chaffin Luhana LLP has a long and successful history of protecting the rights of those affected by the serious side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and medical products. The firm has experienced substantial growth in 2011, with partners Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana representing high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the country, and launching new online resource centers for clients and the public. To date, Mr. Chaffin and Ms. Luhana along with co-counsel have been involved in recovering over $900 million for injured consumers. The firm has a distinguished track record of success and is highly committed to each case.

The action alleges negligence and strict product liability under Illinois law against firepot and gel fuel manufacturer BirdBrain Inc., retailer Ace Hardware Corporation, and Bishop Hardware & Supply, Inc., which owns and operates the Ace Hardware location that sold the defective goods to the parents of the seven-year-old boy.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) has received reports of nearly 60 injuries and two wrongful deaths related to gel fuel and the firepots used to hold the fuel, including numerous injuries from the use of the BirdBrain firepots and gel fuel at issue in the case Chaffin Luhana filed.

BirdBrain’s competitor, Napa Home & Garden, has already recalled its gel fuel. On August 10, 2011, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan held a press conference calling on the CPSC to recall all gel fuel products because they are so inherently dangerous. Chaffin Luhana joins Attorney General Madigan in the call for a recall of all firepots and gel fuel, including the BirdBrain firepot and gel fuel that injured its clients.

Said Chaffin Luhana Partner Eric T. Chaffin, “This product was supposed to enhance the ambiance in one’s backyard; instead, it sent our clients and dozens of others to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns. These victims suffered traumatic, sometimes life-threatening and certainly disfiguring injuries. When victims like our seven-year-old client are being so badly burned, regulators have to take action.”

Chaffin Luhana LLP is a plaintiffs-only law firm with a national trial practice focused on representing plaintiffs in mass tort, securities and whistleblower cases in federal and state courts across the country. The founding partners, trial lawyers Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana, have an established record of integrity, success and leadership in the national plaintiffs’ bar. Partner Eric Chaffin has been named by Super Lawyers to be among the top lawyers in New York State, and has also been selected for membership to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, limited to the fewer than 1% of attorneys nationwide who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. More information about Chaffin Luhana is available at www.chaffinluhana.com, and more information about firepot lawsuits can be found at http://www.explodingfirepot.com.

Ms. Luhana will serve as moderator for programming on new rules in scientific evidence, updates on pharmaceutical litigation (including Accutane, Zimmer hip implant devices, NuvaRing, and Levaquin), the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions on generic pharmaceutical cases (Mensing v. Wyeth and Demahy v. Wyeth) and foreign-made pharmaceuticals.  STEP panels traditionally convey information on subjects ranging from consumer product litigation nuts and bolts to the use and abuse of class action litigation.

Roopal Luhana is a founding partner of Chaffin Luhana LLP, a national law firm with an exclusive focus on plaintiff litigation. Presently, Ms. Luhana’s practice involves Topamax birth defects litigation, as well as the representation of parties injured by CPSC recalled Napa firepots.

Once rated as a class “C” anticonvulsant drug, the FDA now warns that the Topamax (topiramate) rating has been lowered to a “D” in light of certain medical traumas suffered by children born to women taking this medication during pregnancy. Birth defects related to Topamax and topiramate-based drugs include cleft palate, cleft lip, and harelip. Chaffin Luhana’s Topamax lawyer website will serve the public by profiling information directly related to the recent FDA changes in the Topamax drug and by benefiting those who believe they now suffer from Topamax’s previously undisclosed and serious side effects. Chaffin Luhana has also developed a unique video timeline that documents the history of Topamax birth defects from its inception, through the recent discovery of drug-related birth defects it may cause. This video illustrates to consumers critical information about the alleged risks involved with taking Topamax.

Protecting the rights of those affected by allegedly dangerous products, child safety, medical malpractice, and dangerous drugs, Chaffin Luhana’s national trial lawyers have recovered nearly $100 million in client settlements in 2010 alone. Chaffin Luhana’s role in protecting the rights of consumers affected by other allegedly dangerous products, such as injuries from zinc in denture cream, have garnered Chaffin Luhana clients interviews on some of the nation’s most noticeable television news shows, including Good Morning America and ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer. With a diversified background of career experiences including Eric Chaffin’s role as a United States Federal prosecutor in New York and Roopal Luhana’s multiple roles as class counsel and appointed officiate in mass tort cases, Chaffin Luhana LLP retains a pinnacle position in the role of mass legal representation, protection, and settlements for its clients.

If you or someone close to you has a child that is potentially suffering from Topamax side effects, including cleft palate, cleft lip, and harelip, you may be entitled to compensation from Ortho McNeil, the drug’s manufacturer. Contact Chaffin Luhana today by visiting http://www.chaffinluhana.com, or by calling toll-free 1-888-480-1123 for a no-obligation, complimentary case evaluation.

Ms. Luhana will be speaking about publicity in high profile cases and the ethical limits that apply. Some of the topics to be discussed include “no comment” policies, the impact of positive relationships with the press, trial publicity, and how to do deal with combating what should be off the record in the growing world of social media outlets. Several other attorneys, as well as the managing director of Courtroom Live, will be speaking on the subject matter as well. In addition to this topic, the forum will present a variety of topics relating to the Mass Torts field, and feature many federal and state court judges, attorneys and speakers from around the country.

Roopal Luhana is a Founding Partner of Chaffin Luhana Law Firm in New York City which focuses exclusively on plaintiff litigation. Currently, Ms. Luhana is heavily involved the In re Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, as she is one of only two women on the Plaintiff Steering Committee in the Southern District of Illinois. Additionally, Ms. Luhana is also closely involved in the denture cream litigation in both federal and state courts.

The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation strives to create a model system of care for children and young adults suffering from all Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI). PABI is the number one cause of death and disability for children and young adults in the United States. Founded by Patrick Donohue, SJBF is in honor of Mr. Donohue’s daughter, Sarah Jane, who suffered serious injuries while under the supervision of her baby nurse. The mission of SJBF is to act as a centralized resource for parents, researchers, doctors, therapists, teachers, lawyers and other professionals. They hope to do this through the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan and subsequent national tour. The Town Hall Meeting in Boston will include presentations from various physicians, researchers, educators, and Sarah Jane Brain Club members regarding their goals and most recent research.

The event will also begin with a special presentation honoring Cheryl Delrossi by her surviving husband Rich (“Dick”) Delrossi.  Mrs. Delrossi is a former client of Chaffin Luhana LLP who suffered from a traumatic brain injury during a routine MRI before her passing in April 2010. Her husband, Dick Delrossi is a member of the Massachusetts Host Committee for the National PABI Plan Tour. In honor of Cheryl’s memory the Chaffin Luhana Foundation has donated $25,000 to the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation.

The Million Dollar Advocates Forum/Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum was established in 1993 as a discerning group of trial lawyers from a variety of practice areas who are marked by the superior results they achieve for their clients. This selective group of lawyers is chosen after a careful review by an experienced trial counsel and all qualifications have been met. The forum boasts some of the most prominent trial lawyers in America.

Eric Chaffin is the Managing Partner of Chaffin Luhana LLP, which is based in New York City and focuses exclusively on representing plaintiffs in litigation.  The firm’s practice focuses on representing consumers and investors in a variety of national litigations, including mass torts, securities and whistleblower cases.  Mr. Chaffin’s past experiences include a stint as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York, a federal judicial law clerk and a lawyer with a large multi-national defense firm.  Mr. Chaffin currently serves as court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel and Co-Liaison counsel in state and federal denture cream lawsuits for consumers poisoned from zinc in denture adhesives such as Fixodent and Super Poligrip.  During the course of his career, Mr. Chaffin has been involved in total recoveries for his clients’ and class members in excess of $1 billion and, in the past year alone, he has achieved multiple multi-million dollar recoveries for his clients. The firm’s cases and its work for consumers, including consumers poisoned from zinc in Fixodent that are pursuing denture cream lawsuits, have been featured on prominent national news shows such as The Today Show, ABC’s WorldNews with Diane Sawyer and ABC’s Good Morning America.