Hearing Set on Motion to Consolidate Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Litigation

A hearing on the Petition to consolidate the Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella product liability litigation into an MDL is set for September 24, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. The hearing will be held before the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. If the federal cases are consolidated, they will proceed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

First Kugel Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Scheduled for March 2010

According to a Case Management Order issued last week in the Kugel mesh MDL, the first of four "bellwether" trials will begin in March 2010. The other "bellwether" trials are scheduled for trial in April, July and September of 2010. The "bellwether" cases are designed to be representative of common issues throughout the litigation.

The Kugel hernia mesh MDL consists of more than 1,000 cases consolidated in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island. Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi is presiding over the MDL.

The Kugel hernia mesh cases are based on design defects in the patches made by Davol, Inc. a subsidiary of C.R. Card, Inc. The defects caused plaintiffs to suffer severe injuries after hernia repair surgery. Kugel hernia patches were the subject of three separate recall from December 2005 through January 2007. The litigation also involves non-recalled patches.