Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern, LLP Announces Lawsuit; Texas Man Sues Maker of Hernia Repair Mesh; Man Claims Product Leaves Patients Sterile and Many More May Not be Aware of the Problem.Business Editors & Legal Writers AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003 An Austin medical patient is claiming that a polypropylene mesh, widely used to repair hernias in men of reproductive age, has left him sterile. Thomas Crowson, Jr. and his wife, Andrea, are suing the manufacturer, Davol, Inc., of Cranston, R.I., alleging that the company marketed a defective product and was negligent in failing to warn doctors and patients of the problem. "We have information that leads us to believe that many, many more inguinal hernia inguinal hernia n. A hernia into the inguinal canal. inguinal hernia Surgery The prolapse of a loop of intestine into a patent inguinal canal patients, who used this particular mesh product, are sterile because of this mesh," says attorney Brian Keller, who is representing the Crowson family. "We also believe the manufacturer has covered up the problem." Mr. Keller is a partner in the Houston law firm, Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern. An inguinal hernia, or groin hernia, is one of the most common forms of abdominal hernia abdominal hernia n. A hernia protruding through or into any part of the abdominal wall. Also called laparocele. abdominal hernia . It occurs when a part of the intestine pushes through an opening in the abdominal wall down into the inguinal canal inguinal canal n. The oblique passage through the layers of the lower abdominal wall that transmits the spermatic cord in the male and the round ligament in the female. . This is the passageway through which the testicles Testicles Also called testes or gonads, they are part of the male reproductive system, and are located beneath the penis in the scrotum. Mentioned in: Testicular Cancer, Testicular Surgery, Vasectomy normally descend into the scrotum scrotum: see testis. shortly before birth. According to the American College of Surgeons This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. , approximately 700,000 men in the United States undergo surgical repair for inguinal hernia each year. The lawsuit alleges that the product, called Bard Mesh, causes scar tissue to develop between the mesh and a part of the body called the spermatic cord. A buildup of too much scar tissue can cause a blockage leading to sterility. Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern attorney John Thomas, who is also representing the Crowsons, says the firm is evaluating cases from across the country. "The trend is alarming. There may be many people in this situation who don't even know there is a problem and may never know until they try and have children." The lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas The United States District Court For the Western District Of Texas (W.D.Tex) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction consists of the counties in the western part of the state of Texas. This district covers over 92,000 square miles and seven divisions. , San Antonio Division. The cause number is SA 03CA59. For additional information about this lawsuit, contact Brian Keller at Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern by calling 713/547-9100. Or, contact Mike Androvett at 800/559-4534 or at mike@legalpr.com. If you would like to review the lawsuit, visit www.hicks-thomas.com. |
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