Bard PowerPort Catheter Litigation Updates – December 2025

November 4, 2025

• MDL Surpasses 2,000 Cases: Last month saw 155 new cases added to the Bard PowerPort MDL, pushing the total number of pending lawsuits over 2,000—the largest single-month increase in this litigation to date.

September 27, 2025

• New Florida Lawsuit Filed: A plaintiff from St. Petersburg, Florida, joined the MDL, claiming that two implanted PowerPort devices fractured and caused thrombosis, resulting in severe complications. The complaint reflects the Master Complaint, alleging product defects, failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, and concealment, and seeks both punitive damages and a jury trial.

September 10, 2025

• Approaching 2,000 Cases: The MDL now lists 1,972 active lawsuits, up from 1,807 last month. While the total may not reach 10,000 as initially expected, crossing 2,000 cases seems likely soon.

August 30, 2025

• Texas Plaintiff Joins MDL: A woman from Santa Fe claims her Bard PowerPort fractured internally, causing infection, thrombosis, and long-term complications. Imaging confirmed the device failure, requiring corrective procedures.

August 20, 2025

• Bellwether Trial Dates Announced: Case Management Order No. 38 sets the first bellwether trials to begin in March 2026 and continue through December 2026. These early trials will test evidence in front of a jury and increase settlement pressure on Bard.

August 13, 2025

• Alabama Lawsuit Added: A Hoover, Alabama, plaintiff alleges her Bard PowerPort M.R.I. device fractured, resulting in infection and thrombosis. The lawsuit cites design and manufacturing defects, failure to warn, breach of warranty, and fraud, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

August 4, 2025

• MDL Reaches 1,807 Cases: The number of pending cases grew modestly from the prior month, likely reflecting seasonal delays rather than waning interest in the litigation.

July 26, 2025

• Bellwether Schedule Adjusted: The parties requested minor changes to interim expert disclosure and deposition deadlines for Miller v. Bard, to account for delays in testing the explanted port catheter. The overall litigation timeline remains intact.

July 19, 2025

• First Bellwether Trial Details: The Cook case, involving infection from a PowerPort used for chemotherapy, will lead the bellwether pool. The plaintiff claims defective design and manufacturing allowed microbial growth, while warnings about infection risk were inadequate.

July 16, 2025

• Cook Case Confirmed for First Trial: Scheduled for mid-to-late February 2026, the Cook case marks the start of up to six bellwether trials. The court also extended deposition deadlines for key witnesses, moving the MDL closer to trial.

July 7, 2025

• MDL Case Count Jumps: With 263 new filings in June, the total number of Bard PowerPort cases rose from 1,500 to 1,763, showing growing momentum in the litigation.

July 2, 2025

• Strongest Claims Identified: The most compelling cases involve patients with BardPort or AngioDynamics implants who suffered fractures, leaks, or migration, leading to blood clots, infections, or pulmonary embolisms. Severe outcomes such as sepsis, internal bleeding, or organ perforation are considered particularly strong.

June 26, 2025

• Judge Orders Expert Summary Revisions: Bard must revise 16 Rule 26(a)(2)(C) expert summaries, previously deemed vague or incomplete. Revised summaries are due by July 18.

June 20, 2025

• New South Carolina Lawsuit: A resident alleges serious complications, including catheter fracture, after receiving a PowerPort implant in October 2016.

June 4, 2025

• MDL Grows to 1,500 Cases: With 90 new cases filed in May, the litigation continues its upward trend.

May 16, 2025

• North Carolina Plaintiff Joins MDL: A woman claims a PowerPort M.R.I. implant caused catheter fracture, infection, and thrombosis after being implanted in August 2022.

May 6, 2025

• Bellwether Trial Mix Outlined: Judge Campbell provides guidance for the first six bellwether trials, emphasizing a mix of infection, thrombosis, and fracture cases, with representation of different catheter materials and at least one surgical complication case.

May 1, 2025

• Strongest Cases Highlighted: Cases with BardPort or AngioDynamics implants in the last ten years that led to serious health issues like fractures, leaks, or migration are considered strong candidates, particularly when surgical intervention was required.

April 30, 2025

• Bellwether Trial Proposals Submitted: Both parties propose trial selections, agreeing on three infection cases and at least one thrombosis case, while debating inclusion of fracture cases and catheter material types.

April 1, 2025

• MDL Momentum Rises: Ninety-two new cases were added in March, bringing the pending total to 1,205, reflecting growing awareness and legal action regarding the device.

March 28, 2025

• Expert Report Deadlines Set: Plaintiffs’ experts for liver and thyroid cancer cases are due July 11; defendants’ experts by August 22. A Science Day is scheduled for June 20. Deadlines for kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, or thyroid disease cases remain unchanged.

March 18, 2025

• Ulcerative Colitis Discovery Pool Expands: Three more plaintiffs join intensive fact discovery. Case Management Conference #15 addresses bellwether deadlines, ongoing discovery disputes, deposition attendance rights, and briefing on late-profile forms.

March 3, 2025

• MDL Caseload Grows: 108 new lawsuits added in February, bringing total pending cases to 1,112.

February 24, 2025

• Fourteenth Case Management Conference Held: Court addressed discovery compliance and set next conference for March 20, 2025.

February 18, 2025

• Nevada Lawsuit Filed: Plaintiff claims a defective PowerPort ISP M.R.I. device caused severe complications, including catheter fracture.

February 6, 2025

• January Filings Slow: Only eight new cases added, bringing the total to 1,004, likely a temporary slowdown due to the holiday season.

January 28, 2025

• Michigan Plaintiff Files Lawsuit: Alleging thrombosis and other complications from a defective PowerPort, asserting manufacturers prioritized profits over safety.

January 16, 2025

• New Case Management Order (CMO #29): Streamlines bellwether trial preparation with discovery guidelines, deposition authorizations, and physician examination procedures.

January 8, 2025

• Lawsuits Continue to Rise: 78 new cases added in December, bringing MDL total to 891.

January 2, 2025

• Judge Limits Corporate Depositions: Scope for Bard executive depositions narrowed to prevent excessive burden.

December 18, 2024

• Wisconsin Plaintiff Files Lawsuit: Alleging catheter fracture and complications from a defective PowerPort.

December 6, 2024

• Case Management Conference Update: Deadlines extended for fact discovery and expert disclosures; show-cause orders issued for non-compliance; next conference scheduled for January 16, 2025.

December 3, 2024

• MDL Growth Slows: 93 new cases filed, bringing total pending lawsuits to 813.

November 26, 2024

• California Estate Files Lawsuit: Claims complications including fracture, infection, and thrombosis; seeks compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

November 21, 2024

• Successor Liability Agreement Reached: Bard entities treated as a single group for liability; parent company BD agrees to satisfy judgments if Bard entities cannot.

November 12, 2024

• 11th Case Management Conference: Focused on depositions, privileged documents, and compliance with prior orders; plaintiffs’ request to extend discovery denied.

November 6, 2024

• Successor Liability a Key Issue: Plaintiffs argue BD should share liability for PowerPort claims; ruling could impact potential compensation.

November 1, 2024

• MDL Growth Continues: Nearly 200 new cases added in October, bringing total pending cases to 720.

October 22, 2024

• Scheduling Dispute: Plaintiffs seek to extend deadlines for discovery and expert disclosures; Bard opposes.

October 8, 2024

• AngioDynamics MDL Consolidation: Over 50 lawsuits consolidated in Southern District of California alleging defective port catheters with similar complications.

October 1, 2024

• MDL Case Surge: 94 new cases filed or transferred in September, bringing total pending cases to 527.

September 10, 2024

• California Plaintiff Joins MDL: Vacaville resident claims PowerPort M.R.I. device defects led to infection and pericardial effusion.

September 3, 2024

• MDL Sees High Growth: Nearly 100 new cases added in August; total pending cases now 427.

August 27, 2024

• Missouri Plaintiff Joins MDL: Claims defective PowerPort caused thrombosis.

August 26, 2024

• MDL Continues to Expand: 37 new lawsuits filed in July; total pending cases reach 336.

July 18, 2024

• MDL Case Count Update: Pending cases total 322; 47 cases pending in New Jersey Superior Court.

July 9, 2024

• Bellwether Cases Selected: 24 initial bellwether lawsuits chosen; Fact Sheets due by July 31, 2024.

June 5, 2024

• Discovery Progress: Agreements reached on search terms for first 30 custodians; some disputes remain. Next case management conference scheduled for July 9, 2024.

June 3, 2024

• MDL Growth: 45 new cases added; total pending cases now 232.

May 2024

• Defendants Seek Medical Records: Additional records requested for bellwether trial consideration.

April 2024

• Judge Denies Delay Request: Bard’s motion to postpone bellwether trials denied; parties ordered to adhere to schedule. MDL continues expanding with ongoing discovery.

February 2024

• Lawsuits Transferred: Cases from Colorado, New Jersey, and Texas moved into the Bard PowerPort MDL; no trials scheduled yet.

Are Bard PowerPort catheters considered safe?

You might know Bard PowerPort catheters from long-term treatments like chemotherapy. These implantable ports are meant to simplify care by reducing the need for repeated needle insertions. They can be a real convenience—until problems or complications start to appear.

Is the Bard PowerPort device reliable?

It can be alarming when a medical device intended to help your treatment ends up causing additional health issues. Unfortunately, some patients with Bard PowerPort catheters have experienced just that. Below is a summary of the complications that have been reported:

• Catheter Fractures: The PowerPort can break internally, leaving fragments that pose serious risks.
• Device Migration: The port may shift from its original position, causing pain or functional issues.
• Infections: Bacterial contamination at the implantation site can lead to serious illness.
• Embolisms: Detached fragments from the catheter can block blood vessels, creating life-threatening conditions.
• Port Site Leakage: Medication or bodily fluids may escape from the port, preventing proper delivery and potentially endangering health.

An In‑Depth Look at PowerPort Catheter Complications

When examining complications associated with the PowerPort catheter, understanding both their prevalence and severity is crucial. The following are commonly reported issues, some of which may arise more than 90 days after the device has been implanted:

• Catheter breakage
• Fragments becoming lodged in arteries or organs
• Catheter pieces traveling through the heart
• Perforation of veins or organs
• Cardiac or pericardial tamponade
• Cardiac puncture
• Catheter dislodgement or disconnection
• Hematoma formation
• Hemorrhage
• Blood vessel laceration
• Necrosis around the port site
• Persistent pain at the port or catheter location
• Late-onset complications such as arrhythmias, blood clots, infections, and thromboembolic events

Concerns About PowerPort Materials and Manufacturing

Allegations surrounding Bard PowerPort catheters focus heavily on the device’s materials and manufacturing processes. Reports claim that the company knew about risks like catheter fractures, migration, and leaks but did not sufficiently warn patients or healthcare providers.

Legal action began in 2023, as affected patients started filing Bard PowerPort catheter lawsuits. These cases are still in the early stages, with courts preparing for initial bellwether trials that could influence the broader litigation. Here’s a snapshot of some real-world lawsuits filed so far:

• A chemotherapy patient whose catheter fractured, resulting in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and requiring emergency surgery.
• A patient who developed a bloodstream infection and embolism, leading to multiple corrective procedures.
• A case where catheter fracture and migration forced emergency surgery to remove fragments from the patient’s heart.

Did Bard PowerPort’s Manufacturers Conceal Critical Information?

Here’s where things get a bit tangled. Central to the lawsuits is this question: Did Bard PowerPort’s manufacturers know about the catheter’s risk of failure, and if so, why wasn’t this information clearly shared with patients and healthcare providers? Plaintiffs argue that Bard may have leveraged regulatory pathways—like the FDA’s 510(k) premarket notification and the Alternative Summary Reporting (ASR) program—to quietly notify the FDA of device problems while keeping the public in the dark.

Complicating matters further is the 2020 Class 2 recall of certain Bard PowerPort models by Becton, Dickinson and Company. This recall indicates that while the defects could cause health issues, they were deemed manageable or reversible with proper medical intervention.

Bard PowerPort lawsuits

The legal battle surrounding Bard PowerPort catheters has reached a critical stage with the initiation of Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) #3081. MDLs are designed to consolidate numerous similar cases, allowing the courts to manage pretrial proceedings efficiently while still preserving the individual nature of each lawsuit.

As of late 2023, more than 65 cases were included in the MDL, all being prepared for potential bellwether trials. These initial trials are intended to test evidence, establish legal precedents, and guide future settlement discussions.

The MDL process begins by transferring cases into the federal court system, where a single judge oversees pretrial matters such as discovery, motions, and procedural disputes. Once the pretrial phase concludes, individual cases return to their original courts to continue independently, ensuring each plaintiff’s unique circumstances are addressed while maintaining judicial efficiency.

Pursuing Justice and Financial Relief

While the Bard PowerPort catheter has been a notable advancement in medical treatment, it is not without potential complications. Patients and caregivers should remain aware of possible device issues and the legal options available if problems arise.

If you or a loved one have experienced health problems related to a Bard PowerPort catheter, pursuing legal action may be a viable path. Although the litigation process can be complex and time-consuming, it offers a way to seek justice and potentially secure compensation for injuries suffered. Protecting your health and well-being should always remain the top priority.

Mass Torts vs. Class Actions: A Quick Overview

When we talk about mass torts and class actions, we’re referring to two different ways the legal system handles cases where many people are harmed by the same product, company, or event.

Mass tort lawsuits deal with situations where multiple individuals are affected, but each person’s experience and injury is unique. Imagine a neighborhood hit by a severe storm, where every house suffers different damage. In a mass tort, each homeowner files their own case, but because the storm caused all the damage, the court groups the lawsuits together for efficiency. Importantly, each plaintiff keeps control of their own case and settlement, ensuring their individual harm is addressed.

Class action lawsuits and settlements combine multiple individuals’ claims into a single legal action. Picture the entire neighborhood suing over the storm together, with one or a few neighbors representing everyone’s interests. In this setup, individual control is limited. The lead plaintiff and their legal team make decisions that affect the entire group. Any class action settlement or award is generally divided equally or distributed according to a predetermined formula that applies to all members.

Which Option Suits You Best?

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you determine which legal approach might be the right fit for your situation:

• Control: Mass torts allow more personal control over your case, while class actions limit individual decision-making.
• Compensation: Mass torts tailor compensation to each person’s unique damages, whereas class actions typically distribute awards uniformly.
• Applicability: Mass torts work well when damages differ from person to person; class actions suit situations where everyone experienced similar harm.
• Efficiency: Class actions can move faster and conserve resources by combining multiple claims into one lawsuit.

If you’ve been affected and are exploring legal options, think about what matters most to you. Do you want to stay in control of your own case, or are you comfortable letting a lead representative make decisions on your behalf? Are your injuries unique and in need of individualized attention, or are they similar enough to be handled collectively? Your answers will guide you in deciding whether a mass tort or a class action (or class settlement) is the right path for your situation.