In response to a venue challenge, a Philadelphia judge has ruled the city's courts have jurisdiction over the defendants in the pelvic-mesh mass tort.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Arnold L. New, coordinating judge of the court's Complex Litigation Center, rejected the jurisdictional challenge of defendants Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon. The defendants had sought to remove the cases to federal court in West Virginia.

“Upon consideration of defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, and plaintiffs' response thereto, it is hereby ordered and decreed that the motion is denied,” New said in an order.