Overview
Bard PowerPort catheter lawsuits cover implanted port-a-cath devices made by Bard Access Systems (now BD). Claimants allege the catheters fracture, migrate, or cause embolisms and infections (per complaints). The consolidated action In re Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3081) is pending in the District of Arizona before Judge David G. Campbell (master docket 23-cv-03081, per JPML and the court’s docket page). The court is running a five-case bellwether program: the first trial (Cook, infection) ended in May 2026 with a defense verdict on the decided claims and a hung jury on design defect; the second (Divelbliss, fracture) returned the first plaintiff verdict, $40 million, on September 4, 2026 (per Law.com and mdlupdate tracker). Over 3,500 plaintiffs are part of the MDL (per Legal Examiner, Sep 2026). Under Case Management Order 48, unresolved cases are transferred or remanded to their home districts after the bellwethers (per mdlupdate tracker). This page tracks court records and regulatory sources — we are not a law firm and we do not promise or predict case outcomes.
Status of the science / claims: Catheter fracture/migration mechanism is documented in device failure analyses; individual causation rulings vary by case (per dockets). Bellwether results have been mixed: a defense verdict on decided claims (May 2026) and a $40 million plaintiff verdict (September 4, 2026) both relate to this docket (per Law.com and mdlupdate tracker).
Key people
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
Individual case values in the consolidated D. Ariz. action vary widely by injury type (migration, embolism, infection) and stage. Bellwether outcomes reported so far: defense verdict on decided claims (Cook, May 2026) and $40 million plaintiff verdict (Divelbliss, Sep 4, 2026, per Law.com); no global settlement is on the public record. No amount can be promised.
Case count
| Month | Filed cases | Δ |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 3,500 | +3150 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 350 | +30 |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 320 | +20 |
| Jun 1, 2024 | 300 | — |
Key dates
- September 9, 2026Five-case bellwether program: Cook, Divelbliss, Lattanzio, Hicks, Sorensen; over 3,500 plaintiffs (per mdlupdate and Legal Examiner)
- September 4, 2026Second bellwether (Divelbliss, fracture): first plaintiff verdict — $40 million (per Law.com and mdlupdate tracker)
- May 1, 2026First bellwether trial (Cook, infection): defense verdict on decided claims, hung jury on design defect (per mdlupdate tracker)
- March 23, 2026Case Management Order No. 46 (per D. Ariz. docket page)
- March 23, 2023Consolidated action docketed in D. Ariz. (23-cv-03081; MDL 3081, per JPML and court page)
Updates
- Updated Sep 9, 2026MDL 3081 (D. Ariz., Judge Campbell) bellwether program: Cook ended May 2026 with a defense verdict on decided claims and a hung jury on design defect; Divelbliss returned the first plaintiff verdict, $40 million, on Sep 4, 2026 (per Law.com and mdlupdate tracker).
- Updated Aug 1, 2026Plaintiff firm pages updated for August 2026 — intake active (per SERP check).
Notable filings
- — First bellwether verdict reported (23-cv-03081, D. Ariz.) [source] — First bellwether verdict reported in 2026 (per plaintiff firm updates; verify against the D. Ariz. docket).
- — Case management order — In re Bard Implanted Port Catheter (23-cv-03081, D. Ariz.) [source] — Coordinated case management in the District of Arizona through March 2026 (per court records; verify against docket).
FAQ
What is the Bard PowerPort lawsuit about?
Bard PowerPort catheter lawsuits cover implanted port-a-cath devices made by Bard Access Systems (now BD). Claimants allege the catheters fracture, migrate, or cause embolisms and infections (per complaints). The consolidated action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (per the court’s docket page).
Who is the defendant?
Bard Access Systems (Bard) made the devices; its device business was acquired by BD (Becton Dickinson) in 2017 (per public reports). BD is the current corporate defendant.
Where are the Bard PowerPort cases being heard?
In the consolidated action In re Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products Liability Litigation, D. Ariz. (23-cv-03081, per the court’s docket page), with case management orders through March 2026.
How many cases have been filed?
We track roughly 350 consolidated cases as of August 2026 (per our docket-based count); the number has grown from about 300 in mid-2024. Individual non-consolidated filings exist separately.
How much will victims receive?
Individual case values vary widely by injury type (migration, embolism, infection) and stage. Per plaintiff-firm case-result pages, some matters have resolved in the mid-six to seven figures; no outcome or amount can be promised. Amounts are reported by firms, not verified against the docket.
What is the current status of the lawsuit?
The matter is in bellwether phase: a first bellwether verdict was reported in 2026 (per plaintiff firm updates), and plaintiff firms are actively taking new cases (per firm pages, August 2026).
Is there a statute of limitations?
Statutes of limitations and discovery rules (for example, fraudulent concealment) vary by state and by the terms of the consolidated action. This is not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney about your deadline.
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