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 deathscaused by the TrapEase® Permanent Vena Cava Filter and OptEase® Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filter (“IVC Filter”).
Plaintiff Donald W. is the surviving spouse of decedent Johnethia W., a woman from Florida who was implanted with the OptEase IVC Filter on May 15, 2015. The filter malfunctioned and allowed blood clots to pass through the filter, causing pulmonary embolism and death.
Plaintiff Peggy J., a woman from Arkansas, was implanted with the TrapEase IVC Filter on April 30, 2001. The filter malfunctioned and perforated through her inferior vena cava. As a result, she has suffered life-threatening injuries and required extensive medical care.
Plaintiff Donald M., a man from Tennessee who now lives in Florida, was implanted with the TrapEase IVC Filter on July 14, 2010. The filter malfunctioned and tilted, requiring extensive medical care and treatment.
Plaintiff Ramona M., a woman from Florida, was implanted with the OptEase IVC Filter on November 6, 2008. The filter malfunctioned and tilted, resulting in perforation of her inferior vena cava. As a result, she suffered life-threatening injuries and needs ongoing care.
Plaintiff Donna M., a woman from Kansas, was implanted with the TrapEase IVC Filter on July 6, 2006. The filter malfunctioned and tilted, and subsequently perforated her inferior vena cava.
Plaintiff Yvonne T. H., a woman from Texas, was implanted with the OptEase IVC Filter on February 23, 2012. The filter malfunctioned and she suffered an unsuccessful removal surgery with failure attributed to the filter being embedded in the wall of her inferior vena cava.
Plaintiff Lori R. N., a woman from Massachusetts, was implanted with the TrapEase IVC Filter on October 19, 2004. The filter malfunctioned and fractured, causing her to suffer life-threatening injuries.
All of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit suffered life-threatening or deadly injuries, required extensive medical care and treatment, and continue to suffer significant medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
The lawsuit cites several studies linking the OptEase and TrapEase filters with high rates of life-threatening injuries, for example:
OptEase filters and the TrapEase filters suffer fracture rates of 37.5% and 23.1% respectively, when left implanted a minimum of 46 months. Another recent study found that the TrapEase filter had a 64% fracture rate when left in more than four years.
Attorneys accuse Cordis Corporation and other defendants of failing to warn patients and doctors about these serious safety risks. The defendants are also accused of selling a defective medical device.
The lawsuit was filed on February 2, 2018 in the Superior Court of the State of California (Alameda County) — Case No. RG18890582
There are now over 7,000 IVC filter lawsuits pending in state and federal courtrooms against Cordis Corp., C.R. Bard, Cook Medical, B. Braun, Rex Medical, and other manufacturers.
The plaintiff is represented by Ben C. Martin of The Law Offices of Ben C. Martin in Dallas, Texas.
Ben C. Martin is a trial attorney who serves as the plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel in the Cook IVC Filter MDL and on the plaintiffs’ steering committee of the Bard IVC Filter MDL.
Editor’s note: For more information about IVC Filter lawsuits and your legal rights, please contact The Law Offices of Ben C. Martin.