Paragard Lawsuits

Litigation involving the Paragard intrauterine copper contraceptive device is ongoing. Our legal partners are actively accepting new cases on behalf of women who experienced pain, infertility and other injuries from broken Paragard IUD pieces embedded in their organs.

As of August 2024, there were 2,774 pending lawsuits and a total of 2,860 cases filed against the company in federal court in Georgia under MDL number 2974.

The first of the bellwether trial cases was originally scheduled to begin in October 2024. But as of August 2024, there have been no updates on these proceedings and discovery continues. It’s likely the trials will not begin until 2025.

From our legal research through court documents and talking to our legal partners, we’ve compiled a timeline of the biggest developments in this litigation below.

Paragard bellwether trials are called test trials because the outcome of these cases will help lawyers on both sides better evaluate a global settlement value.

In some cases, defendants will settle a case ahead of trial to avoid potentially paying more damages and risking a jury verdict.

The Paragard IUD lawsuits claim a design flaw led to the IUD device breaking during removal. This meant that part of the device could remain lodged in the uterus or other internal organs, causing injuries.

The women claim that the manufacturers failed to warn doctors and patients of the risks. As a result, plaintiffs suffered several debilitating effects from undergoing Paragard IUD removal. Some women required surgery as a result.

“This litigation involves allegations that the Paragard intrauterine device (IUD) has a propensity to break upon removal, causing complications and injuries, including surgeries to remove the broken piece of the device, infertility, and pain,” according to the Northern District of Georgia’s MDL page.

In December 2020, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated dozens of lawsuits across the nation in the Northern District of Georgia under Judge Leigh Martin May.

The first bellwether was scheduled for January 2024, then October 2024. Now, it seems more likely that the bellwether will begin in 2025.

According to our legal partners, you may qualify to file a Paragard IUD lawsuit if your Paragard IUD broke upon removal, and you experienced serious injury or Paragard side effects.

Women who filed lawsuits claim that Paragard broke during removal, leaving pieces of the IUD in their bodies. Some women required surgery to remove the device and treat complications.

According to CooperSurgical’s website, “Paragard removal is nonsurgical and done by a health care provider during a routine office visit in just a few minutes.” The arms of the device should fold up when removed, according to the instructions for removal included in the prescribing information.

If you experienced an injury because of Paragard IUD removal, you may qualify to receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills or lost wages. Before moving ahead with litigation, it is important to speak to a lawyer to review your options and the specifics of your case.

Paragard manufacturer CooperSurgical continues to make claims supporting the device’s safety and benefits. However, several women have already filed lawsuits after suffering injuries upon removal of their IUD.

Medical researchers investigating IUD side effects have also recommended improved protocols when removing Paragard IUDs.

Georgia Bowers v. Teva et al.

Georgia Bowers filed her suit against Teva and CooperSurgical in September 2020. She received her Paragard in January 2017. In September 2017, she visited her doctor to have the IUD removed.

An ultrasound revealed the device was incorrectly positioned. Bowers’ doctor followed instructions for removing the IUD, but only part of it came out. One arm was missing. Bowers’ doctor tried to remove the broken piece by colposcopy but failed.

“At all relevant times, the Teva Defendants had knowledge that there was a significant increased risk of adverse events associated with Paragard IUD, including arm breakage, and despite this knowledge the Teva Defendants continued to manufacture, market, distribute, sell and profit from sales of Paragard IUD,” Bowers’ lawsuit said.

Carley Tredway v. Teva et al.

Carley Tredway filed her suit against Teva and CooperSurgical in September 2020. Tredway received her Paragard in 2008. In 2018, she went to get her Paragard removed.

Her doctor followed the instructions to remove the IUD, but one arm remained in the uterus upon removal. Tredway’s doctor removed the remaining arm via hysteroscopy a month later.

“Prior to her procedures, Plaintiff and her doctors were provided with no warning from the Defendants of the risk of Paragard IUD failure and injury, nor were Plaintiff and her doctors provided with adequate warning of the risk of removal of ParaGard IUD,” Tredway’s complaint said. “This information was known or knowable to the Defendants.”

The Paragard litigation is in progress and as of August 2024, there has been no global settlement. If an out-of-court settlement isn’t reached, the first trials may begin in 2025. The result of these first trial cases will likely influence possible settlement amounts.

Prior IUD birth control cases like the Mirena IUD settlement can provide some indication of lawsuit settlement amounts, but this is only a guess, and you shouldn’t base any potential settlement amounts on this figure.

In August 2017, Bayer offered $12.2 million to settle 4,600 lawsuits after women successfully sued the manufacturer for claims that their IUD moved around in the body and punctured or injured organs.

If you have questions about any potential settlement amounts, make sure you speak to your lawyer directly.

Settlements can sometimes be reached before a trial begins or once it is underway. Monetary settlements for damages can vary significantly based on the details of an individual case. Settlement talks generally start once the first few test cases go to trial and juries award verdicts.