Shine Lawyers is fighting for justice on behalf of thousands of Australian women who have been left with life altering complications after receiving Johnson & Johnson vaginal mesh or tape implants.
Update: High Court Judgment
On the 5th of November 2021, the High Court of Australia dismissed Johnson & Johnson’s application for special leave to appeal. Shine Lawyers will provide further information about the decision as soon as possible.Second Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson Class Action filed in Federal Court
On the 7th of April 2021, Shine Lawyers filed a second class action against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson in the Federal Court, on behalf of women implanted with a defective mesh product on or after 4 July 2017.
This second class action has been filed to protect women who were not eligible to join the first class action that was filed in 2012 based on the Federal Court’s class definition. The allegations against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson in this second class action are practically the same as what was alleged in the first class action.
If you have received a Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon implant listed below and suffered one or more complications after 4 July 2017, please click the ‘Register Now’ button below and fill out the form.
High Court Appeal - November 2021
On the 6th April 2021, Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) applied for special leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court to the High Court of Australia.
A hearing will be held on the 5th November 2021 for the High Court to determine whether special leave should be granted. If the High Court refuses to grant special leave to J&J, the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court (handed down on 5 March 2021) will stand. If the High Court grants J&J special leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court, then the subsequent decision of the High Court will be final and there will be no further right of appeal.
This page will be updated when further information is available.
Federal Court Appeal Judgment - March 2021
On the 5th of March 2021, Shine Lawyers welcomed the Federal Court’s decision dismissing Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson’s appeal in favour of the thousands of women whose lives were destroyed by defective prolapse mesh and incontinence tape implants. This victory has been a long journey towards justice for Australian women left devastated by these products.
In a class action, there are a number of ways in which the case can proceed following an appeal judgment. This page will be updated when further information is available.
Federal Court Judgment - November 2019
On the 21st of November 2019 we welcomed the Court’s decision which found that Johnson & Johnson vaginal mesh and tape implants were not fit for purpose or of merchantable quality. Federal Court Judge Anna Katzmann also found that Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon Sàrl and Ethicon, Inc. were negligent and driven by “commercial opportunities”.
The judgment is available to view by clicking here.
What is the Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon Class Action about?
The class action, which is the largest women’s health action in Australian history, was filed by Shine Lawyers on behalf of thousands of Australian women who have been left with life altering complications after receiving Johnson & Johnson vaginal mesh or tape implants. This has been part of a global health crisis involving these products, which have had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of women whose lives were put on hold as they endured chronic and debilitating pain.
Shine Lawyers’ claim alleged that:
- the implants were defective and not fit for purpose;
- the information and warnings that accompanied the implants did not adequately disclose the nature and severity of the risks; and
- the implants caused significant and sometimes severe and life-altering complications including erosion and chronic pain.
Can I join the Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon Class Action?
This class action includes any person who was implanted, in Australia, with one or more of the tape and mesh implants listed below used to treat stress incontinence or prolapse and suffered complication(s).
The implants are:
- Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair Systems (Anterior, Posterior and Total);
- Gynecare Prosima Pelvic Floor Repair Systems (Anterior, Posterior and Combined);
- Gynecare Prolift+M Pelvic Floor Repair Systems (Anterior, Posterior and Total);
- Gynecare TVT;
- Gynecare TVT - Abbrevo;
- Gynecare TVT – Secur;
- Gynecare TVT Exact;
- Gynecare TVT - Obturator; and
- Gynecare Gynemesh PS Nonabsorbable polypropylene Mesh.
See our FAQs section below for further information on how to find out the type of implant you may have received.
How to express your interest in the Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon Class Action
To express your interest in the Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon Class Action on a no-cost, no-obligation basis, please click the button below:Express your interest in the Class Action now