Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawsuit
Cook Medical is facing IVC filter lawsuits citing wrongful injuries. Courts have found in favor of multiple plaintiffs in bellwether trials. Damages exceeding $1 million have been awarded. If you used a Cook Celect IVC or other Cook IVC filter and were injured, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
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Latest Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawsuit Updates
Individuals are still filing IVC lawsuit cases against Cook Medical Incorporated, citing injury and wrongful death. Claims against other divisions include Cook Medical, Cook Group Incorporated and Cook Medical, LLC. Plaintiffs claim that implanted IVC filters broke apart inside their bodies and caused pieces to travel through their bloodstream, leading to serious injuries.
As of November 2024, 7,585 cases against Cook were pending and a total of 11,424 cases were filed. Cook IVC filter lawsuits are still ongoing. The company has not offered a group settlement, although it may still do so.
- October 2024: There are no major updates to report from the MDL over the last few months. Things are moving very slowly, with conferences often rescheduled. We're continuing to keep an eye on this litigation and will report on any updates.
- May 2024: Cook was able to get some cases dismissed from the MDL. New plaintiffs' attorneys filed appearances on behalf of their clients.
- February 2024: Judge Young set a status hearing for MDL 2570 for June 2024. Cases from state courts across the country continue to transfer into the MDL.
- November 2023: The Court entered summary judgement in Ernie Scott v. Cook et al., so the case will not go to trial.
- August 2023: As of August 22, 2023, 7,982 active cases were pending against Cook Medical, Inc.
- June 2023: 7,981 open cases pending in the Cook IVC MDL #2570. Over 3,000 cases have been resolved since the MDL was created in 2014.
- May 2023: The bellwether trial of Ernie Scott v. Cook Medical Inc. is scheduled to begin trial December 2023.
- December 2021: U.S. District Court for Indiana refused to award $3 million in damages to plaintiff Tonya Brand, citing that the plaintiff did not provide enough evidence of Cook’s “reckless indifference.” A jury awarded her that amount in 2018.
In 2014, lawsuits against Cook Medical were compiled into an MDL assigned to the Southern District of Indiana and U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young and Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker. The company won the first bellwether trial in 2017.
The manufacturer lost the next two cases, and juries awarded both plaintiffs amounts in excess of $1 million. Cook appealed one of the cases but settled that case out of court for an undisclosed amount. In the other case, the judge awarded $3 million to the plaintiff but later ordered a new trial.
Why Are People Filing Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawsuits?
Some inferior vena cava filters have broken apart, causing fragments to travel through the bloodstream. IVC filter fragments can puncture a major blood vessel and cause internal bleeding or travel to an organ like the heart and cause damage.
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Device migration
- Device perforation
- Filter fracture
- IVC occlusion
- Pulmonary embolism
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its information about IVC filters in 2014, citing reports of problems associated with the devices. Many of the reports address complications plaintiffs outline in lawsuits against Cook Medical. The FDA notes research indicates dangerous complications are more often associated with IVC filters that are left in for long periods of time.
These devices – placed into a large vein to stop blood clots from traveling to the lungs – are difficult to remove. This is particularly the case with IVC filters implanted for long periods. Research is limited on how to safely remove them after IVC filter complications occur and how to properly treat patients. Many plaintiffs claim emotional stress from filters remaining inside their bodies.
Were Cook IVC Filters Recalled?
Cook Medical recalled its Cook Celect Vena Cava filter set in 2019, stating that they needed to update the instructions for use on the label of the devices. The recall came years after a 2014 warning letter from the FDA stating that Cook’s manufacturing, packing, storing and installation practices didn’t conform with federal requirements. The warning also called out the company’s failure to follow up on insufficient bonding of catheter heads and other faulty device issues.
The FDA inspected Cook Medical’s facilities and practices in 2018 to ensure the company had complied with the 2014 warning letter. The FDA found that Cook Medical had adequately addressed all prior violations and indicated they would continue to follow up with Cook to monitor compliance.
Am I Eligible To File a Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file Cook Medical IVC filter lawsuits if you’ve experienced injuries or complications from an implanted Cook IVC device. Plaintiffs who have filed cases against Cook listed embolization and thrombosis, filter migration, fracture and perforation among their injuries.
Consult an experienced VC filter lawyer. Your lawyer can help you gather necessary documentation and navigate the process.
Cook Medical hasn’t offered a settlement, and cases are going to trial. An experienced lawyer can advise you through a free consultation and discuss possible timelines.
Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawsuit Verdicts and Settlements
Plaintiffs have brought individual cases against Cook Medical and the company has yet to offer a settlement in their IVC filter MDL. Three of the cases that have gone to trial have been awarded more than $1 million.
A settlement is a voluntary agreement between both parties in a legal dispute. A verdict is a decision that a jury or judge renders after a trial.
- February 2019: Plaintiff Tonya Brand sued Cook Medical for damages incurred when her IVC filter “deteriorated” inside her. A jury awarded Brand $3 million in damages, but a judge later overturned and the case will go to trial again.
- May 2018: Plaintiff Jeff Pavlock won his case against Cook Medical for $1.2 million. Pavlock’s IVC filter perforated his intestine, and he claimed that Cook Medical didn’t properly warn his surgeon of the risks involved in IVC filter implantation.
Monetary gains from lawsuits are difficult to predict. Once your lawyer has all the information they need from you about your experience with a Cook IVC filter, they can discuss your case in more detail.
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