A federal judge who is presiding over the Cook Medical IVC filter multidistrict litigation has recently indicated that a series of IVC filter settlement conferences regarding a small group of MDL cases are expected to begin in early 2016.

This Cook IVC filter MDL was established in wake of the growing number of cases regarding personal injuries and complications stemming from the use of these Cook medical devices.

In October 2014, all IVC filter lawsuits involving Cook Celect and Cook Gunther Tulip IVC filter products were consolidated into one MDL before U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young for pretrial proceedings and coordinated discovery in Indiana federal court.

What is an IVC Filter?

An inferior vena cava filter, or IVC filter, is a cage-like medical device that is shaped with small, spider-like legs used to trap blood clots from reaching a person’s heart or lungs. Individuals with a high risk of pulmonary embolism have previously been recommended to consider implantation of the medical device.

However, according to certain IVC filter studies the medical device may pose certain complications for patients. IVC filters are meant to be a temporary, retrievable medical device that are designed to be removed after the risk of suffering from a blood clot has decreased, but some patients have reported suffering painful and sometimes even fatal injuries while using Cook’s medical products.

Some common IVC filter complications and side effects reported by plaintiffs in these IVC filter lawsuits include filter movement, punctured veins, or fractured IVC filter legs that cause small pieces to break off and lodge themselves in patients’ hearts or lungs.

Because these IVC filter lawsuits raise similar allegations against Cook’s products, the cases were consolidated into a national MDL.

IVC Filter Litigation Update

According the recent status conference for the Cook IVC Filter MDL, Judge Young has scheduled Feb. 16, 17, and 18, 2016, as dates for a few Cook IVC filter settlement conferences. During these settlement conferences, all parties involved in this IVC filter litigation are expected to negotiate which cases picked from a pool of IVC filter lawsuits will be allowed to go through case-specific discovery.

The bellwether cases scheduled for early trial dates are expected to help both plaintiffs and defendants involved in the IVC filter litigation gauge how juries are likely to react to evidence and testimonies presented to them regarding the alleged risks and side effects of IVC filters.

However, according to reports, these settlement conferences have been scheduled to allow the court and the parties determine if an adequate deal can be reached during these early stages of litigation.