May 9, 2016 — Boston Scientific and Cook Medical were each hit with a federal lawsuit in Kentucky by two women who were injured by defective IVC filters.
Boston Scientific is only facing a handful of IVC filter lawsuits, but about 350 cases are currently pending against Cook Medical. The lawsuits are centralized in Illinois federal court (MDL No. 2570).
The lawsuit (PDF) against Cook was filed by Olenda Holmes, a woman from Kentucky who was implanted with the Celect IVC filter in February 2013. Within two years, she was suffering from chronic back and leg pain. Her doctors discovered that the filter tilted and caused a severe blood clot in her lower left leg.
They implanted yet another Cook filter — the Option — and prescribed blood-thinning medications, which Holmes must take for the rest of her life. According to the lawsuit:
“Defendants knew or should have known that its Cook Filter when used as expected and intended, had the possibility of shifting, breaking free its implantation site, migrating, perforating the vena cava, and causing serious injury and/or death to patients.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on May 6 — Olenda Homes et al. v. Cook Medical Inc. et al. (Case No. 5:16-cv-00066).
The lawsuit (PDF) against Boston Scientific was filed by Katherine Milan, a woman who was implanted with the Greenfield IVC filter in June 2005. About five years later, doctors discovered that the filter was occluded with blood clots. They did not remove the filter. In 2015, a CT scan confirmed that the filter was still clogged and caused severe pain in her thigh and lower abdomen.
The case is Katherine Milan v. Boston Scientific (Case No. 5:16-cv-65TBR).
In August 2010 and May 2014, the FDA warned that temporary IVC filters should be removed as soon as they were no longer necessary — ideally between 29 and 54 days after implantation. Unfortunately, the filters are often left implanted for years or decades.
Do I have an IVC Filter Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is evaluating IVC filter cases in all 50 states, regardless of whether you were injured or not. If you or someone you know received an IVC filter implant, please contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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