Wash. Federal Judge Remands Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Case to State Court

SEATTLE — A Washington federal judge has remanded an Ethicon Inc. (NYSE: J&J) pelvic mesh case to state court, rejecting defendants’ assertion that the nondiverse healthcare defendants were fraudulently joined.

On Sept. 25, Judge Ricardo S. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington found the claims against both Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon Inc. and the healthcare defendants “concern overlapping factual and legal questions.”

Juanita Ramirez and Angel Rios sued J&J, Ethicon, Dr. Elton Kerr and Our Lady of Lords Hospital in the King County (Wash.) District Court, alleging Ramirez suffered complications after undergoing a …