By Joe Fantini May 30, 2019

C.R. Bard – a leading medical device manufacturer – is defending more than 7,300 product liability lawsuits in an Arizona federal court. The lawsuits involve claims that several of the company’s IVC filters are defective. It doesn’t appear that Bard’s legal troubles will go away any time soon. New IVC lawsuits are filed every week. Most recently, the company is being sued over alleged defects in its Denali and G2 devices.

Florida Woman Claims Injuries Related to Defective G2 IVC Filter

In October 2008, a Florida woman received a G2 Vena Cava Filter implant. Years later, she began to experience health complications. Her injuries were comparable with those injuries reported by other Bard IVC filter recipients.

She filed an IVC filter lawsuit against the company, claiming the G2 device she received was defective. The lawsuit also accused the company of failing to warn her and her doctors about health risks related to the controversial device. Her lawsuit was consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Arizona with thousands of other similar cases.

Texas Man Accuses Bard of Selling Defective IVC Filters

In August 2014, a Texas man received a Denali IVC Filter implant. Shortly after moving to California, he began to experience adverse health issues known to be related to a defective IVC filter.

In March 2019, he filed an IVC filter lawsuit against Bard, claiming that the company’s defective device was responsible for his debilitating injuries and chronic pain. His case joined more than 7,000 others in an MDL in the District Court for the District of Arizona.

IVC Filters Known to Fracture, Migrate in the Body

IVC filters are implanted in the vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the heart. Small metal legs keep the filter in place, allowing it to trap blood clots as they travel through the vein before they can reach the heart, lungs, or brain. This technology can be instrumental in preventing pulmonary embolisms, which are often fatal.

In recent years, IVC filters have become quite controversial. Many patients have suffered devastating injuries after their IVC filters malfunctioned inside the body. Several filters, including the Bard G2 and Bard Denali, have been known to fracture, migrate, tilt, and shift in the body.

Sometimes the metal legs detach and travel through the blood. If the legs reach the heart or lungs, they can do just as much damage as a blood clot.

Other times, IVC filters shift in such a way that it becomes impossible to remove the device safely. Most IVC filters are retrievable and intended to be a short-term treatment. The FDA even formally recommends removing the devices no later than 54 days after implantation. Leaving the filter in for too long increases the risk of complications.

Defective IVC filters have caused a wide range of injuries and complications, including:

These injuries have prompted thousands of IVC filter patients to pursue compensation from medical device companies. Since many of these lawsuits involve similar facts, arguments, and evidence, they’ve been consolidated in an Arizona federal court. The plaintiffs will benefit from shared discovery and hearings, but also reserve the right to have their individual days in court. Even though the MDL has been established, new plaintiffs can join the proceedings.