Many medical supply companies make inferior vena cava filters. IVC filters are cage-like devices meant to catch blood clots before they reach a patient’s heart or lungs. However, hundreds of people reported problems after device implantation, especially retrievable blood clot filters left in too long. Reported injuries include internal tears and bleeding after the device moving around within the patient’s body. The IVC filter can then perforate vital organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys or even the inferior vena cava itself. (The inferior vena cava also happens to be the largest vein in the human body.) Reports also show filters tilting, fracturing into pieces before migrating throughout the body, or becoming surgically irretrievable after placement. C.R. Bard is one of 11 device manufacturers. However, Bard devices seem riskier than their competitors. This is mainly due to the higher fracture and death risks linked to the Bard IVC filter.
Past Bard IVC Filter Lawsuit Settlements
In 2015, Kevin Phillips of Nevada sued C.R. Bard after his IVC filter fractured. The plaintiff subsequently discovered that a fragment perforated his heart, which required emergency surgery. Phillips then had heart surgery to remove the fractured device’s fragments. Once Phillips began his IVC filter trial in Nevada, C.R. Bard contacted him to negotiate a settlement. The plaintiff then reached a settlement after only 10 days after his initial court date began. This case gives other injured plaintiffs hope that future juries might also rule in their favor.
Current Bard IVC Filter Litigation
Due to the overwhelmingly high number of C.R. Bard IVC filter cases, the U.S. Judicial Panel ordered all federal lawsuits grouped into one filing in Arizona. Consolidating cases like this can be helpful for plaintiffs, because individual attorneys are then able to coordinate their efforts and pool their resources to build the best class action lawsuit possible against the device’s manufacturer.
Some Bard IVC filter injury allegations include stories like Dodi Froehlich’s. Ms. Froehlich got an IVC filter placed after sustaining serious car accident injuries. Four months after her Recovery filter placement surgery in 2004, Froehlich developed a severe headache and fainted. An X-ray showed a piece of IVC filter perforating Froehlich’s heart. Emergency surgery managed to save Froehlich’s life. Sadly, many similar stories don’t share her happy ending. Just one week after leaving the hospital, Gloria Adams died because a blood clot pushed a piece of broken Bard Recovery IVC filter into her heart. That device fragment then punctured the organ, causing Adams to pass away.
Future Bard Litigation Outlook
The Bard Recovery, G2, and G2 Express IVC filters are all currently being scrutinized for poor performance. Lawsuits are also pending against Cook Medical Inc., Rex Medical, and Boston Scientific over defective IVC filters. The first lawsuit against Cook Medical goes to trial in 2017. Based on past outcomes, current plaintiffs are hopeful about receiving compensation for IVC filter injuries. To see if you or a loved one may qualify for a cash settlement from the manufacturer, fill out your free case review form today. A lawyer will call you to discuss your compensation options and possible next steps for filing your claim.
Related: IVC Filter Lawsuit Information
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.