In an order released on August 17, 2015, the federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated jurisdiction of federal Bard IVC filter lawsuits into a United States District Court in Arizona. The cases will be handled by Judge David G. Campbell; however, these actions will not have a direct effect on any similar cases filed in state courts around the county.

Twenty-two Bard IVC Filter cases which had originally been filed in federal district courts in states such as California, New York, and Illinois were consolidated into the one action in Arizona. The decision necessitated a finding that the individual cases shared common questions of fact, and the consolidation would serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Arizona is the corporate home of the device’s manufacturer, C.R. Bard, which opposed consolidation.

Overview of Bard IVC Filter Lawsuits

Bard IVC Filters are small metallic devices implanted into the main vein that travels between the heart and lower legs. The Bard IVC Filters are designed to catch and hold blood clots before they reach the lungs; however, studies have shown the Bard IVC Filters are prone to defects which cause them to break apart or dissipate into the blood stream. These devices have been linked to 27 deaths already, according to a recent NBC News report.

Contact New Orleans Defective Medical Device Lawsuit Attorneys