Bard Hernia Mesh MDL Judge Denies Motion to Seal Settlement Details

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio federal judge has refused to seal the terms of a settlement agreement in the Davol Inc./C.R. Bard Inc. hernia mesh multidistrict litigation, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to meet the 6th Circuit’s “high standard for nondisclosure.”

In a July 1 order, Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled that the parties’ desire to keep the information secret and claimed unfair prejudice “do not fall into the category of ‘only the most compelling reasons,’ and do not overcome the ‘strong presumption of openness.’”

“This Court …