Timothy O’Brien and $88 Million Hernia Mesh Verdict Recognized Among Law360’s “Legal Lions of the Week”

Tim O’Brien and Historic $88 Million Mesh Verdict Named Among Law360’s “Legal Lions of the Week”

Levin Papantonio Shareholder Timothy O’Brien has been recognized by Law360 following a historic $88 million bellwether verdict against Covidien, a Medtronic company. This $88 million verdict is the highest compensatory damages award in the 15-year history of mesh products litigation in the U.S., including all hernia mesh trials and the dozens of transvaginal mesh trials that preceded it.

Law360 highlighted LP and co-counsel Stokes & Hobbs LP in its August 7, 2026, edition of “Legal Lions of the Week,” recognizing the firms for the landmark result in Patterson v. Covidien.

The $88 million verdict is the largest compensatory award across 15 years of U.S. mesh litigation, including hernia mesh trials and the transvaginal mesh trials that preceded them.

Following a three-week trial in Massachusetts federal court, the jury awarded $77 million to Larry Patterson and $11 million to his wife, Tammy Patterson. The jury found Covidien liable for failing to adequately warn physicians about risks associated with the Symbotex hernia mesh implanted in Patterson.

The verdict also marked a major milestone in the ongoing Covidien litigation. Patterson’s case was the first of more than 2,400 federal lawsuits involving Covidien hernia mesh products to reach a jury verdict.

Patterson was represented at trial by Timothy O’Brien of Levin, Papantonio, Proctor, Buchanan, O’Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A. and Kelsey Stokes of Stokes & Hobbs.

Law360’s recognition of the trial team among its “Legal Lions of the Week” follows a record-setting result for the Pattersons and a significant development for the thousands of plaintiffs pursuing claims involving Covidien hernia mesh products.

O’Brien serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the Covidien Hernia Mesh multidistrict litigation and has played a leadership role in the litigation on behalf of injured patients nationwide.

Source: Law360, “Law360’s Legal Lions Of The Week,” Kevin Penton, August 7, 2026.

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