Lawsuits Over Complications from Paragard Copper IUDs Consolidated in Georgia MDL
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has ruled that more than four dozen lawsuits filed by women who experienced side effects from the copper IUD Paragard should be consolidated in a multidistrict litigation in Georgia. The manufacturers of Paragard are also facing dozens of additional lawsuits filed by women with complications from the birth control device.
Paragard is a copper intrauterine device (IUD) that uses copper wiring coiled around a T-shaped plastic device to prevent pregnancy. The copper wires around the IUD are toxic to both sperm and eggs, which is 99% effective at preventing women who use the device from becoming pregnant. Paragard is the only copper IUD approved for use by the FDA in the United States.
Paragard Linked to Potentially Deadly Side Effects
According to lawsuits filed against Teva Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the copper IUD, Paragard has a tendency to break when the device is being removed from the body by health care professionals. If the copper IUD breaks, it could leave pieces inside the uterus or other areas of the body, which can lead to serious side effects.
In cases where Paragard breaks while it is being removed, women have reported serious and potentially fatal complications, including severe pain, infections, organ perforation, and infertility. In some cases, women may be forced to undergo a hysteroscopy or other invasive surgeries in order to remove the broken pieces of the copper IUD from their bodies.
The FDA has received more than 40,000 reports of patients with side effects involving Paragard. At least 15,000 of these cases involved women with serious side effects from the copper IUD. The FDA has also received at least 15 reports of deaths caused by Paragard.
Dozens of Paragard Lawsuits Filed Across the U.S.
The link between the Paragard copper IUD and serious, potentially fatal complications has prompted dozens of women to file lawsuits against Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical, a division of the Cooper Companies, which purchased Paragard in 2017. These lawsuits have alleged that Paragard poses a serious risk to the health of women who use the device, and that Teva and Cooper failed to properly warn patients about the dangers of the copper IUD.
Teva and Cooper are currently facing at least 55 lawsuits filed by women who used Paragard and experienced complications when the contraceptive device was removed from their bodies, as well as at least 25 additional lawsuits that may also be included in the Paragard MDL. These lawsuits were originally filed in 31 districts across several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Because these lawsuits involve similar allegations that Paragard has a tendency to break when it is being removed from the body, placing women at risk of serious and potentially fatal side effects, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation was asked to consolidate the cases in a multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDLs are a judicial procedure which allows multiple lawsuits involving similar allegations to be consolidated before a single judge in order to speed up the litigation process.
After reviewing the dozens of Paragard lawsuits that have been filed against Teva and Cooper, the Judicial Panel ruled that these cases should be combined in a single MDL. The Judicial Panel also ordered that the cases should be transferred to the Northern District of Georgia, which will be in charge of scheduling the first bellwether trials for this litigation that will form the basis of future settlement negotiations between Teva, Cooper, and plaintiffs with complications caused by Paragard.
Free Consultation for Women with Side Effects from Paragard
If you or a loved one were prescribed the copper IUD Paragard for birth control and have experienced complications from this device, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your injuries and medical costs. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an experienced product liability attorney, who can advise you regarding your legal rights and explain the process of filing a claim.
For more information about the lawsuits involving Paragard and to schedule your free legal consultation with a lawyer, contact the law firm of Hissey, Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117. You can also contact our office by filling out the free case evaluation form located on the right side of this page.
After we receive your information, a member of our staff will contact you for any additional information that we need and to help you schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys.