Oregon wins $5.5M Johnson & Johnson case
By Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum,
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced a $5.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. for deceptive marketing of transvaginal surgical mesh devices. The settlement is the result of an investigation finding that the companies violated state consumer protection laws by misrepresenting the safety and effectiveness of the devices and failing to sufficiently disclose risks associated with their use.
Companies must fully disclose the risks associated with their products, said Attorney General Rosenblum. We alleged that Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary knew about possible serious medical complications associated with transvaginal surgical mesh, but failed to warn the patients and physicians who used their products. Im pleased we were able to negotiate a settlement that makes these companies address some of the harm theyve caused to women and requires significant corporate change to ensure that, going forward, patients and medical professionals have all the information they need to make sound decisions.
The state will receive $2 million under the settlement. Johnson & Johnson will distribute the remaining funds to five non-profit medical clinics that provide health care to women in Oregon, including Outside In ($951,086), Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center ($608,640), North by Northeast Community Health Center ($190,274), Planned Parenthood Southwestern Oregon ($825,000) and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette ($925,000).
Last October, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $117 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 41 states and the District of Columbia. Oregon declined to join that settlement and instead filed suit in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The state ultimately negotiated a better settlement that will help pay for health services for women.
Read more: https://oregonbusinessreport.com/2020/10/oregon-wins-5-5m-johnson-johnson-case/