Attorneys representing the makers of medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs are turning to the courts to combat what they claim are questionable lawsuits driven by an influx of aggressive advertising.

A new crop of companies called lead generators, which refer clients to plaintiffs law firms, are fueling an increase in spending on advertising. And defense lawyers are joining the refrain of tort reform advocates and their own clients by turning complaints about ads into legal arguments.

In cases involving the blood-thinner Xarelto and pelvic mesh devices, ads targeting potential plaintiffs have prompted defense attorneys to seek the court's help in staving off large numbers of allegedly meritless lawsuits.