There’s been an update to the multi-district litigation IVC filter lawsuits filed in court against C.R. Bard and Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. Bard manufactures IVC filters that are implanted into patients to lessen the likelihood of strokes, heart attacks, and pulmonary embolisms caused by blood clots. The tiny metal filter is implanted into the vein of the patients to literally catch blood clots that move through the veins.
Unfortunately, many patients have been hurt by the very devices that were designed to save them. More than 600 lawsuits against Bard have been filed alleging that their IVC filters are dangerous. All of the cases were consolidated in federal court in Arizona in August of 2015.
Seeking Class Action Status
In May 2016 a new lawsuit joined the multi-district litigation. This particular case petitioned the court to certify the pending lawsuits as a class action lawsuit so that thousands of people who’ve been injured by IVC filters manufactured by Bard can be compensated. The total damages being sought for all lawsuits combined exceeds $5 million.
Plaintiffs Allege Bad Marketing of a Dangerous Product
Lawsuits filed by IVC filter lawyers on behalf of clients in Florida, Colorado, Arizona, West Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Maryland, and Illinois. The main allegation is that Bard used bad marketing tactics to continue to push their dangerous device into the hands of medical professionals.
Specifically, plaintiffs allege that Bard continued bad marketing practices of IVC filters “despite negative clinical data.” According to an NBC investigation, Bard may have known about the risks associated with the IVC filters and continued to push for FDA clearance. Bard knew about problems associated with the filter, including 27 deaths and more than 300 other injuries. Their internal report from 2004 stated that the devices tended to migrate and fracture. Further studies of Bard’s Recovery filter broke or fractured about 25% of the time. Despite the knowledge that device was dangerous, Bard continued to market the IVC filter.
An updated Bard filter was released but is still fracturing and injuring and killing patients. In May 2014, the FDA issued another warning about IVC filters that stated the devices should be removed in no more than two months after they’ve been implanted. After 60 days, the risk of a pulmonary embolism has generally passed.
Plaintiffs Seeking Medical Care
Plaintiffs of IVC filter lawsuits are seeking more than $5 million in damages and asking for continued medical care because of the higher risk of death or severe injury from Bard IVC filters than they would have if Bard would have produced an IVC filter without this dangerous defect.
Do You Have a Bard IVC Filter?
If you have a Bard IVC filter, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for damages for your injuries or if your loved one died because of an IVC filter. Contact Goldwater Law Firm and ask to speak with an IVC filter lawyer. Our compassionate legal experts are ready to evaluate your case and help you determine if filing an IVC filter lawsuit is right for you. Don’t wait. Call Goldwater Law Firm now.