The federal judge overseeing the Covidien hernia mesh lawsuits says she will reduce the $88 million verdict from the first bellwether trial. At a November 10, 2026 hearing in Boston, U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris called the award “shocking and excessive” and “the product of passion,” according to Reuters. She has not yet said how much she will cut it. The ruling is about the size of one award. It does not end the more than 10,000 Covidien hernia mesh claims still pending, and people with problems after a Covidien Symbotex, Parietex or ProGrip repair can still seek compensation.
What the Judge Said
Judge Saris’s comments came as she considers Medtronic’s post-trial challenge to the verdict. Covidien is a Medtronic company. According to Reuters, the judge said the size of the award was driven in part by a powerful closing argument in which the plaintiff’s lawyer urged jurors to send a message by holding the company responsible.
She also encouraged the two sides to consider settling so they can focus on the next bellwether trial, set for January. It was not the first time. At a status conference two weeks after the August verdict, she said she was likely to reduce the award and urged settlement then too.
Reports of the hearing did not include a new amount. When a federal judge finds a jury award too high, the usual step is to set a lower figure and give the plaintiff a choice: accept the reduced amount or have a new trial on damages.
The $88 Million Verdict
The case was brought by Larry Patterson, an Alabama man whose surgeon used Covidien’s Symbotex mesh in a 2017 hernia repair. He said his bowel stuck to the mesh, causing a bowel obstruction that required another operation in 2020. After a three-week trial, a federal jury in Boston found on August 4, 2026 that Covidien failed to provide an adequate warning about the mesh. It awarded $77 million to Mr. Patterson and $11 million to his wife. The jury did not award punitive damages.
Medtronic said at the time that it remains confident in Covidien’s hernia mesh products and would challenge the verdict through post-trial motions and, if needed, an appeal. For more on the trial itself, see our October update on the verdict.
What Comes Next
The next bellwether trial, involving a Mississippi woman’s Symbotex claim, is scheduled to begin January 11, 2027. A third trial, over Covidien’s ProGrip mesh, is set for March 2027. These test trials are meant to show how juries respond to the evidence, which often shapes settlement talks. No settlement of the Covidien hernia mesh lawsuits has been announced.
More than 2,400 Covidien cases are consolidated before Judge Saris in the federal multidistrict litigation, MDL 3029, and thousands more are pending in Massachusetts state court.
What This Means for Your Claim
A reduced award would change what one plaintiff receives. It would not change whether others can file. Covidien claims are still being accepted, and each claim is valued on its own facts: the mesh used, the injuries, and whether the person needed revision surgery. A jury verdict shows how one jury valued one case, and it is not a prediction of what any other claim is worth. You can read more about past hernia mesh settlements and verdicts.
Doyle APC currently represents clients nationwide in the Covidien and Bard hernia mesh lawsuits. We are reviewing Covidien claims and still reviewing select Bard claims with severe injuries. Compensation in these claims can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and a spouse’s loss of consortium. You pay nothing unless we recover.
Common Questions
Is the $88 million Covidien verdict being reduced?
Judge Patti Saris said at a November 10, 2026 hearing that she will reduce it, calling the award shocking and excessive. She has not yet announced the new amount.
Does a reduced verdict affect my Covidien claim?
Not directly. The ruling concerns the award in one case. Covidien hernia mesh claims are still being filed, and each is valued on its own facts.
What happens if the judge lowers a jury award?
In federal court, a judge who finds an award too high usually sets a lower amount and gives the plaintiff a choice between accepting it and having a new trial on damages. Either side may also appeal.
When is the next Covidien hernia mesh trial?
The next bellwether trial, over Symbotex mesh, is scheduled to begin January 11, 2027. A ProGrip trial is set for March 2027.
Has Covidien settled the hernia mesh lawsuits?
No settlement has been announced. The judge has encouraged the two sides to consider settling.
Can I still file a Covidien hernia mesh claim?
Yes. Claims over Covidien Parietex, Symbotex and ProGrip mesh are still being accepted. Deadlines to file vary by state, so it is best to have your claim reviewed soon. You pay nothing unless we recover.