Cook IVC (inferior vena cava) filters have been under fire lately because of a potential increased risk of vein perforation, device fracture, and migration of pieces to other parts of the body—all instances that can cause life-threatening conditions.
In response to an increasing number of Cook IVC filter lawsuits, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) brought all federally filed cases together in the Southern District of Indiana in October 2014 for pre-trial proceedings. Since that time, both parties have been working toward choosing a select few cases that will proceed as “bellwether” trials. These cases are intended to gauge juries’ responses to the evidence, and to potentially open the door to negotiation on future settlements.
There is some disagreement as to how the cases should proceed, however. In a recent motion submitted to the court on August 24, 2015, the defendants requested the litigation be split into two stages: the first to address liability and compensatory damages, and the second to address punitive damages, “if necessary.”
Cook Requests Court Bifurcate Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant for wrong behavior. Many of the plaintiffs involved in the Cook MDL seek punitive damages against the company.
In their motion, Cook requested that these damages be separated from the others, to “allow the parties and the jury to focus on pertinent issues of liability and compensatory damages without being improperly influenced by evidence concerning Cook Defendants’ revenues, product margins, net worth, employee pay, or other potentially inflammatory financial information, which would be relevant only to calculating a monetary award of punitive damages.”
Cook also requests that the court separate punitive damages during the discovery phase, to promote efficiency and avoid unnecessary prejudice against the defendants.
It’s unclear at this point how the court will respond.
Cook Filters Linked with High Rate of Perforation
Plaintiffs who bring lawsuits against Cook typically have suffered from side effects caused by the filters. The Cook Gunther Tulip and Celect filters are at issue in this litigation. These are both small, cage-like devices that are implanted into the inferior vena cava—the main vein ushering blood from the lower legs back to the heart. Once implanted, the devices are designed to “catch” blood clots before they can travel into the lungs, where they may cause pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs).
Studies have indicated that these filters have a high rate of strut perforation, however, which means that one or more of the “legs” or struts on the device breaks off and perforates the vein. Some may migrate to other areas of the body, such as the heart, where they can cause more damage.
In a recent 2015 study, for example, researchers compared Cook Celect with Option filters, and found that the Celect had a significantly higher rate of strut perforation.
FDA Warns of Cook Filter Side Effects
Amidst growing concern over IVC filters, the FDA released a safety communication in 2010, warning physicians about the risks of device migration, perforation, and fracture. At the time, they had received 921 reports of such problems related to the filters.
In 2014, the FDA released an updated communication, advising physicians to remove these filters within 29 to 54 days after implantation, as long as the risk for PE had passed.
Exclusively focused on representing plaintiffs, especially in mass tort litigation, Eric Chaffin prides himself on providing unsurpassed professional legal services in pursuit of the specific goals of his clients and their families. Both his work and his cases have been featured in the national press, including on ABC’s Good Morning America.
One Comment
Joanna Darwactor
I have a bard g2 filter that was implanted in October 2010. The Dr. That placed it forgot about me. 2 years after I got a call from his office telling me that needed to come into the office as soon as possible, I did and then the Dr told me that it should have come out within 6 months the internet says the FDA said it should be.removed at their latest 54 days or. As soon as the threat has past. I had to undergo another surgery that was very dangerous in its self to try and remove it. After the Dr.s attempt and failure of the removal . I am told that the dangers of the filters increase with time. It has been 3 years since u was informed that it was there and 5 years since its place.ent. Every day I am Left to wonder when this thing inside me I may come lose or apart and kill me. This is a horrible way to live and no one can get it out of me. I would like to know if I can be compensated for the risk of what it most likely will do to me and if it kills me will my children be compensated for the loss of their mother.i have heard about a 5 year mark upon discovery of the bad product or liability of the company will pass and I will not be compensated for any damaged from this thing. So, my question is how much should those of us that have to live with the risks of these filters, be compensated for continued monitoring of these filters and the stress we incur the rest of our lives of the death or injuries we may face from them?
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