Ethicon Sling System Pelvic Repair Case Remanded to Calif. State Court

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California federal judge has remanded to state court an Ethicon pelvic repair system case, finding a nondiverse healthcare defendant was properly joined because the claims against him share a “common origin” with the manufacturer defendants.

On July 2, Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California also found the state court should decide defendants’ motion to stay pending a ruling by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Colleen and Patrick Perry sued Ethicon Inc. and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, in Kern County (Calif.) Superior Court, alleging …