The risks associated with Cook IVC filters may outweigh the benefits. Studies reveal that the Cook devices migrate and shift in the body after implantation. Fragments from the devices puncture the inferior vena cava and travel through the body, resulting in potentially life-threatening injuries.

Thousands of Cook IVC filter patients have filed product liability lawsuits against the manufacturer. The lawsuits allege, among other things, that Cook designed and sold a defective device and failed to warn consumers about known health risks.

Have you experienced adverse health issues after receiving a Cook IVC filter implant? Contact Rosen Injury Lawyers for immediate legal assistance. You may be entitled to compensation. Our IVC filter injury attorneys are prepared to help you fight for the money you deserve. Call our law firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation case assessment.

Cook IVC Filter Lawsuit Settlements and Awards

Cook Medical and other leading IVC filter device companies, including C.R. Bard and Boston Scientific, are facing tens of thousands of lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country.

Cook and other medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to market and sell safe products. Any known health risks must be disclosed to doctors and patients. By failing to disclose risks, patients are deprived of the right to make informed decisions about their health.

A rising number of lawsuits have been filed against Cook Medical. The lawsuits claim:

Plaintiffs are demanding compensation for the painful and avoidable injuries they’ve suffered after receiving a Cook IVC filter.

Many Cook inferior vena cava filter lawsuits are based on similar arguments, evidence, and facts. Some of these cases have been merged into what is known as multidistrict litigations, or MDLs. In an MDL, similar lawsuits from around the country are transferred to be litigated before a single federal court judge. Plaintiffs in the MDL enjoy the benefits of shared pre-trial discovery and investigation. Unlike a class action lawsuit, each plaintiff’s case remains intact and can be litigated in court.

Thousands of IVC Filter Lawsuits Consolidated in Indiana

In 2014, a federal panel approved the consolidation of 27 Cook IVC filter lawsuits into an MDL in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana. Judge Richard L. Young and Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker were assigned to oversee the proceedings. Today, more than 5,000 Cook IVC filter lawsuits are pending in the Indiana MDL.

Now that pre-trial proceedings are over, the first cases in the MDL are getting underway. These early cases are known as bellwether trials. Bellwether trials help to set the tone for future litigation and establish the value of other Cook IVC filter cases.

$3 Million Verdict: In February 2019, Tonya Brand was awarded $3 million for injuries she experienced because of a defective Cook IVC filter. In her lawsuit, she claims that she was able to pull part of her Cook IVC filter out of her thigh after it fractured. She underwent revision surgery, where most of the defective device was located and removed. However, doctors were unable to remove some of the fragments safely. She will experience complications for the rest of her life. The Indianapolis jury determined that the Cook device was defective and dangerous.

Texas Jury Orders Cook to Pay $1.2 Million

Cook IVC filters are also pending in state and federal courts across the country. In May 2018, a Texas jury ordered Cook to pay $1.2 million in damages to Jeff Pavlok, a Houston firefighter. After receiving a Cook Celect IVC filter, the device fractured, causing Pavlok to suffer damage to his aorta and small intestine. The jury determined that Cook knew about dangers associated with the Celect filter before it was approved by the FDA, but decided to move forward with the device, anyway.

Which Cook IVC Filters Are Dangerous?

The FDA has approved several Cook Medical IVC filters. Two devices have been linked to severe injuries and complication:

Several reputable studies suggest that the Celect and Gunther Tulip IVC filters are unreasonably dangerous.

Study: Cook Filters Emed in Vena Cava Wall

A 2009 study focused on 115 patients who received a Cook Celect IVC filter between 2005 and 2007. Results indicated that the device was difficult to retrieve because the struts became embedded in the patient’s vena cava wall.

Study: Cook Filters Associated With High Rate of Tilting After Implantation

In 2012, researchers published a study in the Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology journal. The study involved 50 patients who received Cook IVC filters between 2007 and 2009. Researchers discovered that, after having the implant for 71 days, all patients “showed some degree of vena caval perforation.” In other words, the inferior vena cava was perforated after Cook IVC filters tilted in the body after implantation. Risk of injury increased the longer the device remained in the patient.

Study: Cook Filters and Increased Risk of Vena Cava Perforation

In 2015, researchers analyzed the performance of 99 Cook Celect IVC filters. The study revealed that 43 percent of Cook Celect filters perforated the inferior vena cava after implantation.

Side Effects and Complications Linked to Cook IVC Filters

Patients have reported several adverse health issues after receiving a Cook IVC filter device. Adverse events, related to tilting, fracture, and migration, include:

Have you experienced unusual or painful complications after receiving a Cook IVC filter implant? Contact your doctor right away. Prompt medical care can help to limit the damage caused by a defective medical device.

Have Cook IVC Filters Been Recalled?

No. Cook IVC filters have not been recalled by the company or the FDA. However, the FDA has issued two safety advisories after receiving hundreds of adverse health reports from Cook IVC filter patients. The warnings, issued in 2010 and 2014, warned patients about potential risks associated with Cook IVC filters.

Specifically, the advisories noted that complications occurred at high rates when Cook filters were left in the body for too long. Retrievable IVC filters are intended to be removed from the body after the risk of blood clots has passed. The FDA formally recommended for all retrievable IVC filters, including those manufactured by Cook Medical, to be removed between 29 and 54 days after implantation. Leaving the filter in for any longer significantly increased the risk of device malfunction and patient injury.

Get Help With Your Cook IVC Filter Lawsuit

Have you received a Cook Medical IVC filter implant? You may be entitled to compensation, even if you haven’t experienced any adverse health effects. Contact Rosen Injury Lawyers to learn about your legal rights and options. Your first consultation is free, so do not hesitate to call our IVC filter injury lawyers for help today.