Hernia Mesh Settlement Amounts: 2026 Updates

Hernia mesh lawsuits are being settled with several companies. Bard Davol — now owned by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) — agreed to pay over $1 billion to settle about 38,000 claims. Individual payments are confidential and are still being processed.

While Bard’s settlement is mostly done, the first Covidien trial is scheduled for July 13, 2026. This trial will help show how courts may decide future cases.

Most lawyers don’t give settlement predictions or averages in active litigation because these amounts rely on too many factors. There are no guarantees, so any predictions could mislead plaintiffs.

Hernia mesh lawsuits have led to major settlements, and many patients have received compensation for hernia mesh complications after surgery. There are four active multidistrict litigations (MDLs). MDLs are federal cases that combine several, often thousands, of similar lawsuits to make the legal process more efficient.

Four Hernia Mesh Multidistrict Litigations (MDLs) Currently Underway

Atrium C-QUR in MDL 2753

• Active Cases: 172
• Judge: Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty
• Court: U.S. District Court of New Hampshire

Bard/Davol in MDL 2846

• Active Cases: 23,573
• Judge: Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr.
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Covidien in MDL 3029

• Active Cases: 2,408
• Judge: Senior District Judge Patti B. Saris
• Court: U.S. District Court for Massachusetts

Ethicon Physiomesh in MDL 2782

• Active Cases: 0
• Judge: Senior District Judge Richard W. Story
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Bard Hernia Mesh MDL: Settlement Status

In October 2024, BD announced a hernia mesh settlement estimated at over $1 billion for Bard hernia mesh claims. Individual payments are still being processed. While the settlement terms remain confidential, the company said in a statement that it was a “large majority” of the money set aside for product liability litigation. The most recent quarterly report put that amount at $1.7 billion.

Covidien Hernia Mesh: Bellwether Trial Outlook

Covidien’s litigation has a major bellwether trial scheduled for July 13, 2026. Simply put, a bellwether trial is an early test case, and its outcome can affect how both sides determine the value of future settlements. There are about 2,260 cases still pending.

Other Manufacturers

Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon confidentially settled around 3,700 Physiomesh claims in September 2021 and 292 claims in May 2023. A judge dismissed 200 more in November 2023. No cases remain pending in the Physiomesh MDL (MDL 2782). However, the litigation remains open as of June 2026.

Atrium Medical Corp. settled litigation over its CQUR hernia mesh implants in December 2021. Gitinge Group, Atrium’s Swedish parent company, announced that it had set aside more than $66 million to address the CQUR mesh litigation. However, several cases remain open in MDL 2753.

It can take several years for a hernia mesh lawsuit to reach a settlement. Mass torts attorney Trent B. Miracle notes that this is a typical timeline for complex litigation.

That estimate reflects the normal stages of mass tort litigation, including discovery, expert testimony, bellwether selection and trial proceedings.

Even when a settlement is reached, payments can take time to process. For example, the Bard deal was announced in October 2024, but individual payments are still being managed. This shows how a case can be “resolved” on paper while patients wait for actual payouts.

Once a settlement is reached, it’s important to keep documents up to date. You can also work with an attorney to track case developments and submission deadlines as they unfold.

You might be eligible for a settlement if you had serious problems after hernia mesh surgery, especially if you needed another surgery to fix the issue.

“People who are eligible for filing a hernia mesh claim would be folks who have had complications after a hernia mesh surgery,” attorney Daniel Nigh, partner at Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn, told Drugwatch. “For example, if you’ve had a revision surgery or if you’re scheduled for a revision surgery, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.”

Signs that you may qualify include mesh failure, infection, mesh movement, scar tissue (adhesions) or a hernia returning that required more surgery.

If you have had any of these problems, it’s a good idea to talk to a hernia mesh lawyer. They can help you discover if your case meets the settlement requirements and explain what to do next.

Drugwatch can provide you with a free case review to determine if you qualify for a lawsuit.

The courts typically use a settlement matrix or a tier system to determine individual hernia mesh payouts. The settlement sets up a way to split the money among everyone who filed a claim. A mediator chosen by the court helps make sure the rules are fair.

People with the most serious injuries and the best proof are placed in higher categories and usually get more money. Each person’s settlement amount is typically decided by sorting their case into a predefined group, rather than making a deal for each individual claim.

Settlement Matrix and Tier System

A typical settlement matrix or tier system organizes cases by injury and evidence.

If someone suffered serious problems — like more surgeries or lasting damage — they are placed in a higher group. Cases with less treatment or weaker proof go in lower groups. The main goal is to split the money fairly among people with different injuries.

Factors That Affect Your Payout

Many factors can change the amount you are paid. These include how serious your injury is, how many surgeries you needed, medical bills, lost wages and reduced quality of life.

Sometimes, marriage status or family size is also considered when deciding how much money someone gets. This happens when the settlement addresses how much the injury affected a person’s whole life.

Ultimately, the payout amount depends on how serious the injury is and how good the proof is, not just the diagnosis.

Bard Settlement and Payout Timeline

In October 2024, Becton Dickinson (BD) agreed to settle most of the hernia mesh lawsuits, covering over 38,000 cases in Ohio and Rhode Island.

Bloomberg reported the settlement is worth more than $1 billion. The company said the amount was the “vast majority” of the $1.7 billion it had set aside for product liability cases.

Payments were set to be made over a period of less than 5 years. The court kept other settlement details confidential.

When you get paid depends on your paperwork, your group and the complexity of your case. If you need to provide more medical records or have other issues, it could take longer.

June 5, 2025, was a key date for the Bard settlement. Payments after this date go straight into the settlement fund. Payments made before this date have 10% taken out for legal fees. The amount of any individual settlement remains confidential and will not be disclosed unless the court requests it.

Collecting your documents early can make your claim stronger and help settle your case faster. If you believe you experienced mesh complications, gather these important records before talking to a lawyer.

Prepare these documents in advance to help your attorney see if your case meets settlement requirements. This way, your case can proceed without delays while you wait for payments or updates.