Mesh Medical Device News Desk, April 4, 2019- It is not too late to participate in a survey and confidentially share your thoughts on how the multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been working for you.
More than 104,000 pelvic mesh cases were consolidated in one court in Charleston, West Virginia to expedite the settlements and to hear bellwether trials to set relative values of these cases, filed against seven manufacturers.
From your comments here and online, expedite is far from what has actually happened.
This is a chance to make use of legal channels to let the MDL committee know what has or has not worked for you, the plaintiff.
Image: Professor Elizabeth Burch
Feedback is vital to making things better.
Professor of Law, Elizabeth Burch would like your participation in this:
University of Georgia School of Law Procedural Justice Study, Confidential Study for Plaintiffs involved in Women’s Health MDLs
Burch, a law professor at the University of Georgia School of Law is conducting a project that gives plaintiffs a chance to confidentially discuss their experience with the justice system. That includes the lawyers, the judges and any third-party funders. Many have already participated and Professor Burch is very thankful.
She is not in any way affiliated with or related to any of the law firms, either side sand she does not consult for anyone. There have been some unsubstantiated rumors to that effect. She is funded solely by the University of Georgia.
She tells Mesh News Desk:
“I’m hoping that it will give them a voice. I’m working with Margaret Williams, who’s full time job is at the Federal Judicial Center, but who is writing under her Vanderbilt University affiliation. She’s a talented statistician, and our hope is to turn the study into a widespread in-depth look at the procedural justice issues (if the data shows they exist, of course) that litigants face in the mass harms.”
Burch even provides her phone number so you can be reassured about confidentiality and the purpose of the survey. Otherwise the MDL system will continue what it’s always done, amassing huge numbers of cases into one court to get them through the system. If it didn’t work for you, perhaps you can pay it forward and help others.
Thank you in advance!
The link is here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MDL~
Thank You! Jane and Elizabeth Burch for reaching out to help all victims of our broken system. We victims has to do our part as well, speak up. Lend your voice to (trustworthy entities), first, to shine light on this injustice, second, to nudge ones with the power to legislate to change the statute that allows our Justice System, attorneys to seize our personal property for years, forcing most to agree to unjust “puny” settlements, stripping the victims of their Constitutional Rights to secure Millions/Billions for themselves.
I encourage my fellow Plaintiff’s to do the work. Do research… know your rights/case. I find that others are willing to help when you personally engage to help yourself.
I am Kristen D Salas. My case, Salas vs. Boston Scientific Mansfield Corp.
I have never been heard. Never had my deposition taken, never sat before a Judge. My case filed in Boston Superior Court , my Private retained Counsel, Andrus Wagstaff , LLC, Denver , CO. However, case was immediately transfered at the time of filing to Patel Karishma. My case Dismissed. Only 4 formal motions in my total case.
However, in 2016 Andrus Wagstaff GAVE ME FORMAL SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS TO SIGN WITH A SETTLEMENT AMOUNT. THEY SAID MY CASE HAD BEEN THROWN OUT OF COURT BECAUSE OF THE CONTENTS OF MY MESH MATERIAL.
MY SETTLEMENT , AN OPEN ENDED SETTLEMENT JUST UNDER 13, 000.00 WAS SIGNED BY ANDRUS WAGSTAFF AND MONEY WAS PLACED ON A KEEPS CARD IN MY NAME AS SETTLEMENT. MY VOICE WAS NEVER HEARD AFTER SUFFERING OVER 41/2 YEARS AND NEARLY LOOSING MY LIFE. JUST AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO MY SON.
DOCKET CLERK HAS CONFIRMED THAT MY CASE JUST SETTLED ON AUGUST 23, 2018? AGREEMENT SIGNED BY PLAINTIFF AND HER PRIVATE COUNSEL , PATEL KARISHMA?
WHERE WAS I?
How do you settle a case on August 23, 2018 that settlement documents were signed and money was disbursed in 2016 after a case was dismissed and transferred to another Law Firm and then settles on August 23 2018? And without me present, never being heard, never even being asked to step foot into the office doors of a Law Firm and never even having my Deposition taken?
Not only was I poisoned by this product and have scars that will last a lifetime , 22 years now of hell, but find out that a supposed ‘ SETTLED ‘ CASE WAS PENDING ! I HAVE THE SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS.
I filed a complaint with the CO SUPREME COURT, THEY WITHELD THE ADDITIONAL FILING STATUS FROM THE CO SUPREME COURT , IN ESSENCE, LYING TO THEM ABOUT THIS CASE.
I HAVE ALL COPIES OF THIS AS WELL.
THEY ONLY GAVE THE SUPREME COURT COUNSEL THE INITIAL FILING, NOT THE TRANSFER.
I HAVE AN ATTORNEY WORKING ON MY MALPRACTICE CASE AND CIVIL SUITS AS WELL AS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.
SHE IS ONLY HELPING WITH COMPLAINTS TO SUBMIT TO ATTORNEYS, I AM ACTIVELY SEEKING REPRESENTATION FOR ALL MATTERS. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.
Thank you Ms. Salas-Manners! Your ordeal is just one of many corrupt experiences that I have heard over the life of this MDL. Your example will strengthen other victims to take charge of their case and speak-up about the unethical, corrupt, criminal behavior of our attorneys and our Justice System.
Kristen, you appear to be caught up in administrative hell. Ive read your message a couple of times and cant quite follow your case. Im wondering if your case was dismissed in Boston and moved to the MDL. Is that a possibility? It is common for law firms to partner with other law firmsto manage the litigationn. For mine, there was an attorney who took charge of the five depositions, my prep and other case management issues. When this happens, the attorneys share the 40%.
The mixed messages from the courts on your settlement should not happen. Have you had a conversation with someone from Wafstaff’s or Karishma’s office? Make a list of your questions and ask them to put them in a timeline and explain the process. Be persistent until you fully understand what happened.
A very few women have been before a judge. Most civil lawsuits are settled out of court so you won’t be in court. Most will also not give depositions. They add tremendous case costs.
Now, for your settlement. First,if you did sign the settlement papers for $13,000 in 2016, then publishing the settlement amount is a violation of the confidentiality clause of the agreement. It is ok to talk about your surgery impact , but not about the speciic of your case. Disclosing the amount can revoke your award. Is it possible that your settlement was held because you had medical leins or other holds on the money such as bankruptcy? Those have to be paid back.
Im confused about your stated 22 years of hell, then another place you said 4 1/2 years. That is a big difference. If you are planning a medical malpractice case there will be a statute of limitations for filing. In Colorado, a malpractice suit must be filed within three years. If you have not filed it is doubtful that an attorney will take that case. Plus, if you have signed settlement papers with Boston Scientific, you have made a statemen that you believe the company is at fault. Physicians win 90% of malpractice lawsuits. The burden of proof is high.
The other thing that is unclear is why you filed a complaint with Colorade supreme court since your case was filed in Boston. i dont get a connection there to Colorado other than that is where Wagstaff has office. Colorado would not have any say in your case unless you filed a complaint there about Wagstaff.
See if you can get some questions answered that you well deserve. It is easier to go though something if you fully know about the process that is taking place.