Hernia Mesh Lawsuits, Complications & Your Legal Options
If you had hernia repair surgery with mesh and later developed painful or serious complications, you may be eligible to file a hernia mesh lawsuit.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hernia mesh can be made from synthetic materials or animal tissue. Some mesh is designed to remain in the body permanently, while absorbable mesh gradually loses strength as new tissue grows around the repair.
For some people, complications after hernia mesh surgery can mean chronic pain, infection, adhesions, bowel obstruction, hernia recurrence, or the need for additional surgery. If you’re dealing with serious complications, talk to a doctor and get the treatment you need. Then, contact a hernia mesh attorney at Bernheim Kelley.
Call 888-902-5867, contact us online, or fill out the online form to schedule a FREE consultation. Our team of Real Advocates has the Real Experience to get you the Real Justice you and your family need.
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First Covidien Hernia Mesh Bellwether Trial: The Real Deal
- Patterson v. Covidien, Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-10153-PBS
- Covidien Hernia Mesh MDL 3029
- In re Covidien Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation No. II
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris
- Covidien Symbotex Composite Mesh
- $88 million verdict for Larry and Tammy Patterson
- Jury found Covidien failed to adequately warn about risks
Why the Trial Matters: Patterson was the first bellwether trial in the federal Covidien hernia mesh litigation.
What Happens Next: Medtronic has said it plans to challenge the verdict through post-trial motions and an appeal.
On August 4, 2026, a federal jury awarded $88 million to Larry Patterson and his wife, Tammy, in the first bellwether trial in the federal Covidien hernia mesh litigation. Patterson received a Symbotex implant during hernia repair surgery in 2017. According to court filings, he later developed adhesions involving the mesh and his bowel, followed by a bowel obstruction and hernia recurrence that required another operation in 2020.
A central issue at trial involved the porcine collagen barrier used in Symbotex mesh. The barrier is intended to help keep the permanent polyester mesh from attaching to organs and tissue during the early stages of healing.
The plaintiffs presented evidence that Symbotex’s collagen barrier could be resorbed within about 7 days, leaving the bowel exposed to the polyester mesh much sooner than the roughly 30 days surgeons were led to expect. Covidien disputed the allegations and maintained that the Symbotex mesh performed as intended.
The jury found that Covidien failed to adequately warn about the risks associated with the Symbotex mesh. The verdict included $77 million for Larry Patterson and $11 million for Tammy Patterson. The jury didn’t find Covidien liable for fraud and didn’t award punitive damages.
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers was directly involved in the Patterson litigation. Walter Kelley served as Massachusetts local counsel for Mr. Patterson throughout the case. Timothy M. O’Brien of Levin Papantonio led the trial team, and Kelsey Stokes of Stokes & Hobbs tried the case with him.
Do You Qualify for a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit?
You may be eligible if you:
- Had mesh implanted during hernia repair surgery
- Developed serious complications
- Needed revision surgery or mesh removal
- Were told your complications may be related to the mesh
What To Do Next
- See a doctor about your symptoms
- Gather your medical & implant records
- Talk with a hernia mesh attorney as soon as possible
Filing deadlines vary, so don’t wait too long to have your case reviewed.
FAQs About Hernia Mesh Lawsuits & the Covidien Bellwether Trial
Yes.New Covidien hernia mesh lawsuits are still being filed in 2026. If you were implanted with a Covidien hernia mesh product and suffered serious complications, you may be able to bring a claim.
Whether you qualify will depend on several factors, including:
- The specific product you received
- Your injuries
- When your complications developed
- The statute of limitations that applies to your case
Some claims may already be time-barred, so it’s important to have your situation reviewed by our mass tort lawyers as soon as possible. Our team can determine whether you have a viable Covidien hernia mesh claim and help you understand the next steps.
Serious hernia mesh complications can include:
- Chronic or severe pain
- Infection
- Adhesions
- Bowel obstruction
- Bowel or organ perforation
- Fistulas
- Hernia recurrence
- Mesh migration or shrinkage
- Inflammation
- The need for revision surgery or mesh removal
The FDA identifies many of these complications as known risks reported after hernia repair. However, having a complication does not automatically mean you have a hernia mesh lawsuit.
If you’re experiencing new or serious symptoms after hernia mesh surgery, talk with your doctor about what’s happening and what treatment you may need. Then, contact Bernheim Kelley to schedule a free case review.
The Patterson verdict does not mean that every Symbotex Composite Mesh is legally defective, and Symbotex hasn’t been recalled by the FDA.
In Patterson v. Covidien, the jury found that Covidien failed to adequately warn about risks associated with the Symbotex mesh used in Larry Patterson’s surgery. The jury did not find Covidien liable for fraud or award punitive damages.
If you received Symbotex mesh and later developed serious complications, you could have a claim even without a recall. Whether you have a viable case will depend on your injuries, medical records, implant information, and the evidence connecting the mesh to your injuries.
Symbotex mesh has a porcine collagen barrier designed to help prevent the permanent polyester mesh from attaching to organs and tissue during healing.
In the Patterson case, the plaintiffs presented evidence that the collagen barrier could be resorbed within about 7 days. Patterson’s surgeon had understood that the barrier would provide protection for up to roughly 30 days. The plaintiffs argued that if the barrier disappeared too soon, the bowel could come into contact with the polyester mesh and develop adhesions.
Covidien disputed these allegations and maintained that Symbotex performed as intended. The collagen barrier and what physicians were told about how long it would last became a central issue in the trial.
No. The $88 million Patterson verdict doesn’t mean another Covidien hernia mesh case is worth the same amount.
The verdict was based on the specific circumstances in Larry and Tammy Patterson’s case. Other plaintiffs will have different circumstances. Some cases may result in higher or lower compensation, and others may not result in any compensation at all.
The verdict is important because it was the first bellwether trial in the federal Covidien hernia mesh litigation. It gives both sides information about how a jury responded to the evidence and arguments, but it does not set a value for the remaining cases.
A bellwether trial is a representative case selected for trial from a larger group of similar lawsuits. It gives both sides an early look at how a jury responds to common evidence, arguments, injuries, and defenses.
A verdict in a bellwether trial doesn’t decide the other cases or guarantee that other plaintiffs will receive similar compensation. Instead, the results can help the parties evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the litigation and can influence future trials, settlement discussions, and litigation strategy.
If you have a Covidien hernia mesh claim, the Patterson verdict doesn’t determine what will happen in your individual case.
What To Do if You Have Hernia Mesh Complications
Dealing with pain or complications after hernia mesh surgery can be overwhelming, especially when you aren’t sure what caused the problem or what to do next. But when you’re working with a dedicated attorney from Bernheim Kelley, we can guide you through this process with confidence and care.
See a Doctor
If you’re experiencing pain or other complications after hernia mesh surgery, see a doctor and explain what you’re experiencing. Your doctor may want to review your surgical and implant records to better understand what mesh was used and what could be causing your symptoms.
Document Your Injuries & How They Affect Your Life
Make sure you take notes describing the pain and discomfort you experience, when you feel it, and whether it changes over time. How have your injuries changed your ability to do your job, pursue your hobbies, spend time with your family, or enjoy your life?
Dates are extremely helpful when you’re documenting these details, so you can present a clear timeline to your attorney and, later on, to the courts. Details can be easy to forget over time, especially when you’re dealing with so much. But every piece of supporting evidence and information you can provide will be a significant help.
Contact a Hernia Mesh Attorney
Once you’ve taken care of your immediate medical needs, consider talking with our team about your legal options. The manufacturer and its insurers may have their own legal teams protecting their interests. An attorney can protect your interests and handle communications on your behalf.
What Compensation Can a Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Include?
Establishing the fact that you have a viable claim is the most important step you’ll take when pursuing the compensation you deserve. However, once this is established, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of how your injuries have affected you and your family financially, physically, and personally.
Our team can identify and document the losses that should be considered when evaluating your claim. We’ll help you calculate your damages, both economic and non-economic.
Economic damages include everything that comes with a receipt or dollar value, such as medical bills for follow-up treatments, lost wages from missed work, and more. Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don’t come with a bill, including pain and suffering and the impact on your quality of life. We’ll calculate both and fight to get you the money you truly deserve.
Multidistrict Litigation Is Different From a Class Action
Many of the ongoing lawsuits have been consolidated into what is known as multidistrict litigation (MDL) to ensure that each victim has a streamlined process as courts across the country handle hundreds of thousands of these lawsuits.
However, an MDL differs from a class action in a number of ways:
- MDLs coordinate similar federal lawsuits for discovery and other pretrial proceedings.
- Each plaintiff keeps an individual lawsuit rather than becoming part of one class claim.
- Bellwether trials test representative cases and can help both sides evaluate the litigation, but their results do not decide every other case.
No two injuries are the same. We will work to determine the most appropriate approach for your unique situation to get you the Real Justice you truly deserve. Contact our team of experienced attorneys as soon as possible so we can get started.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
Contact Bernheim Kelley About Your Hernia Mesh Injuries
You’re already dealing with the physical and practical impact of your injuries. You shouldn’t have to figure out the legal side too. We can listen to what happened, discuss your options, and help you understand what comes next.
We offer a FREE case evaluation for hernia mesh victims so we can discuss your experience and injuries to date, as well as the various ways we can help. Call Bernheim Kelley today at 888-902-5867, contact us online, or fill out the online form above. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can get you clarity and the peace of mind you need to focus on your recovery.