IVC Filter Lawsuits Against Cook Medical Are Consolidated To Form Southern Indiana Multidistrict Litigation

TheProductLawyers.com reports on news regarding the October 2014 formation of a Multidistrict Litigation in the Southern District of Indiana. The MDL consolidated all federally-filed Cook IVC filter lawsuits to a single court and was conducted by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Consolidations are done when cases share similar allegations against the same defendants, and help to fast track the litigation and conserve resources for everyone involved. It was reported that since the formation of the Cook IVC Filter MDL, both defendants and plaintiffs have been preparing initial cases for trial dates, which are currently scheduled for the beginning of September, 2016.

Plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits against Cook Medical similarly allege that the IVC filters the company manufacturers are defectively designed, and cause health problems for patients implanted with them. The IVC filters are surgically implanted into the inferior vena cava veins of patients who are deemed at risk of blood clot developments but who cannot use blood-thinning drugs. The cage-like filters are intended to capture blood clots traveling from the lower legs toward the heart and lungs within the inferior vena cava, where they could cause pulmonary embolism or other serious complications. The filters are a temporary fix, and are to be removed when a patient’s blood clot risks subside.

Those who have filed lawsuits in regard to the filters, however, claim that the devices can move from their original insertion points and can break apart. They allege that as they travel through the body, pieces of the filters are able to perforate veins or blood vessels, or to become embedded into internal organs or intestines. Some filter pieces have reportedly settled in areas which are deemed so “high risk” by surgeons, that they are unable to be removed from patients, and are therefore considered a lasting health threat.

Several concerning study results appear to support these plaintiff arguments, indicating that Cook IVC filters may be prone to breakage and to filter migration. The attorneys of Banville Law are currently working to assist other patients who feel that they have been negatively affected by an IVC filter device. Banville Law wants to help ensure that all affected patients are provided with an opportunity to investigate their legal rights in the matter, as they could be eligible for substantial compensation gained through legal action. To help those wishing to explore this option further, Banville Law is now offering complimentary legal consultations to qualified individuals.

To request further information, or to ask questions regarding IVC filter lawsuits, please contact the attorneys of Banville Law by calling 888-997-3792.