The plaintiff is Christopher E., a man from Virginia who was implanted with the vena cava filter at Vidant Memorial Center in North Carolina in 2004.
He accuses Cook Medical of negligence for selling a defective, unsafe medical device and failing to warn about serious risks.
In recent years, a number of studies have found high rates of perforation. This complication occurs when the needle-like wire legs of an IVC filter puncture the wall of the inferior vena cava.
In 2013, a study of the Günther Tulip found that 43% of patients (69 out of 120) developed a perforation. In another study, perforation was observed in 86% of patients with the Tulip or Celect.
Perforations do not always cause symptoms or need treatment, but they can make it harder to remove the filter. Sharp pieces of the filter can also lacerate abdominal organs and require surgery.
The lawsuit was filed on August 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis Division) — Case No. 1:16-cv-02308.
It will be centralized along with more than 800 similar lawsuits in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2570) — In Re: Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation.
The plaintiff is represented by Ben C. Martin and Thomas Wm. Arbon of the Law Offices of Ben C. Martin in Dallas, Texas.
Editor’s note: For more information about IVC Filter lawsuits and your legal rights, please contact The Law Offices of Ben C. Martin.