Houston, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/12/2016 -- A Philadelphia jury has just awarded $5.5 million to the first of over 180 plaintiffs in a mass tort over the use of a pelvic mesh device produced by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon.

With the determination of punitive damages in that trial just announced adding an addition $7 million, McDonald Worley Attorneys at Law urges women who underwent the implantation of a Prolift or similar device to contact the firm for a free, confidential case evaluation with an experienced surgical mesh attorney at https://www.mcdonaldworley.com/transvaginal-mesh-lawyer.php.

"The first verdict is in, and it is good news for women who have suffered harm after having a pelvic mesh implanted," McDonald Worley Lead Attorney Donald S. Worley said, "The jury in Philadelphia rightly found that Ethicon representatives were negligent in failing to report the dangers of the Prolift device. The $5.5 million initial jury award plus the $7 million in punitive damages is a positive first step. We will be reviewing mesh lawsuit patient inquiries throughout 2016, and we expect many women to come forward to seek the compensation they may be entitled."

Among the many potentially serious problems associated with childbirth or menopause, prolapse of internal organs like the bladder or uterus has long been one of the most challenging to address. When this happens, the affected organ bulges against the vaginal wall as the pelvic muscles that normally support it weaken, often causing great discomfort or pain in those affected.

With the introduction in 2005 of an FDA-approved device known as Prolift, Ethicon, a specialized subsidiary of health industry giant Johnson & Johnson, purported to offer a solution to this unfortunately common problem. Designed to be implanted alongside the weakened muscles that contribute to the prolapse of pelvic organs, the Prolift mesh was at first greeted as a welcome and much-needed solution.

Around one in five women surgically fitted with the pelvic mesh reported experiencing intense pain during sexual intercourse, with many more suffering from side-effects of an even more negative and pointed sort. In the case of the woman just awarded $5.5 million, for example, the jury found in support of the plaintiff that the device caused scar tissue to build up inside her body, damaging and adhering to her bladder to the point that surgeons may never be able to remove the remaining mesh.

McDonald Worley Attorneys at Law expects even more women to come forward in the coming months with claims seeking to take legal action in pursuit of compensation. Women with potential lawsuits are encouraged to share what happened in order to have law office's medical product liability attorney review their case and provide a confidential consultation.

Those interested in keeping up with further developments regarding pelvic mesh settlements and pending litigation can follow McDonald Worley Attorneys at Law on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+McDonaldWorley and at the firm's website at https://www.mcdonaldworley.com.

About McDonald Worley Attorneys at Law
Providing vigorous and effective representation to personal injury victims nationwide, McDonald Worley Attorneys at Law is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Association for Justice, and other leading legal organizations.