The lawsuit was filed against Cordis Corporation, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and Confluent Medical Technologies Inc.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries and wrongful deaths caused by the TrapEase® Permanent Vena Cava Filter and OptEase® Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filter (“IVC Filter”).
Plaintiff Theodore K., a resident of Rhode Island, was implanted with an OptEase IVC filter on June 12, 2007. The filter perforated his iliac vein, migrated, and embolized to his right femoral vein. He underwent two failed retrieval attempts.
His wife, Sandra K., has also joined the lawsuit for loss of consortium and other losses due to the injuries suffered by her husband.
Plaintiff Elizabeth M. R., a woman from New Jersey, was implanted with a TrapEase IVC Filter on February 27, 2006. The filter perforated her vena cava ,causing life-threatening injuries that required extensive medical care.
Plaintiff Pierre M., a man from Maryland, was implanted with a TrapEase IVC Filter on June 3, 2013. The filter perforated his vena cava. His wife, Renne M., joined the lawsuit for loss of consortium.
Plaintiff Leanne C., a woman from Michigan, was implanted with the OptEase IVC Filter on June 27, 2005. The filter migrated and failed to prevent blood clots.
Plaintiff Jessica R. H., a woman from Michigan, was implanted with the TrapEase IVC Filter on October 28, 2011. The IVC Filter malfunctioned and caused a chronic occlusion of the filter itself.
The lawsuit was filed on April 2, 2018 in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Alameda — Case No. RG18899306.
There are now over 7,000 other IVC filter lawsuits against B. Braun, Rex Medical, Cook Medical, C.R. Bard, and other manufacturers. Most of these lawsuits have been centralized in Arizona and Illinois.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Ben C. Martin of The Law Offices of Ben C. Martin in Dallas, Texas.