If your Paragard copper IUD broke during removal and you needed a procedure to retrieve the fragments, here is who may qualify in MDL 2974 — and where the litigation stands after the first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This page describes ongoing litigation and an investigation. The statements below are unproven allegations. The manufacturers have not been found liable — the first jury to hear these claims returned a defense verdict — no settlement has been finalized, and eligibility depends on the facts of each case. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice. Do not remove or alter any medical device without consulting your doctor.
What Is This About?
Did your Paragard intrauterine device (IUD) break or fracture when it was removed, leaving a piece behind that had to be surgically retrieved? If so, you may be eligible to speak with counsel about your legal options.The federal cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation known as MDL 2974, In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Leigh Martin May in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Paragard is the only copper (hormone-free) IUD sold in the United States. Plaintiffs allege the device is prone to breaking on removal and that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn of that risk.
The claims are allegations that have not been proven in court. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, and the remaining bellwether trials were pushed to later in 2026.
What Is Paragard and Who Makes It?
Paragard is a copper T 380A intrauterine device — a small, T-shaped, hormone-free contraceptive wrapped in copper wire that is inserted into the uterus. Because it uses copper rather than hormones, it is often chosen by people who prefer a non-hormonal option.The device was originally developed and marketed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. In 2017, CooperSurgical, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies, acquired Paragard and is the current manufacturer. Complaints in the MDL name Teva, CooperSurgical, and Cooper Companies entities, though which entities are named can vary from case to case.
What Do the Lawsuits Allege?
Plaintiffs allege that the Paragard IUD can break or fracture during removal, leaving a piece of the device — often one of the copper-wrapped arms — embedded in the uterus or migrating elsewhere in the body. Retrieving a broken fragment can require additional procedures such as hysteroscopy or laparoscopy, and in some alleged cases a hysterectomy. Alleged injuries include organ perforation, infection, scarring, pain, and loss of fertility. The core legal theories are:• Failure to warn: that the manufacturers knew or should have known of the breakage risk and did not adequately warn patients and physicians.
• Defective design or manufacture: that the device is prone to breaking on removal.
These remain unproven allegations. In the first bellwether trial, the jury rejected the failure-to-warn and design-defect claims and returned a verdict for the defense.
Who May Qualify?
You may qualify to speak with counsel if you had a Paragard IUD that broke or fractured on removal, leaving a retained fragment, and you needed a corrective procedure such as:• Hysteroscopy or laparoscopy to retrieve the fragment
• Surgery to treat perforation, infection, or scarring
• Hysterectomy in severe alleged cases
Eligibility depends on your records and the facts of your case. Helpful evidence includes the insertion and removal records, imaging showing a retained fragment, and records of any retrieval procedure. Because a mass-tort MDL is a coordination of individual personal-injury suits rather than a certified class action, any recovery would depend on the facts of each case. Statutes of limitations vary by state, so anyone considering a claim should consult an attorney promptly.
What Is the Current Status of the Litigation?
The MDL is in an active bellwether-trial posture. Judge May originally scheduled three bellwether trials for 2026. The first, tried in early 2026, ended on February 4, 2026 with a defense verdict for Teva — the jury rejected the plaintiff's failure-to-warn and design-defect claims. Following that verdict, the court postponed the remaining bellwether trials from the spring to later in 2026 to allow the parties to absorb the trial record and complete expert discovery. There is no global settlement, no settlement fund, and no claim deadline at this time.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Paragard IUD lawsuit about?
Plaintiffs allege that the Paragard copper (hormone-free) IUD can break or fracture during removal, leaving copper fragments embedded in the uterus or migrating in the body — allegedly requiring surgical procedures such as hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or in some alleged cases hysterectomy to retrieve them. The claims are failure to warn and defective design. These allegations are unproven.
Who makes Paragard?
Paragard is a copper T 380A intrauterine device. It was originally developed and marketed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. In 2017, CooperSurgical, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies, acquired Paragard and is the current manufacturer. Teva, CooperSurgical, and Cooper Companies entities are named as defendants in the litigation.
Who may qualify for a Paragard lawsuit?
The claims generally involve people who had a Paragard IUD that broke or fractured on removal, leaving a retained fragment and requiring a corrective procedure to remove it. Alleged injuries include organ perforation, infection, scarring, and loss of fertility. Eligibility depends on the facts of each case.
Is there a Paragard settlement?
No. As of mid-2026 there is no global settlement. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, and the court postponed the remaining bellwether trials to later in 2026. There is no settlement fund and no claim form at this time.
Related Mass Torts & Sources
• Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit — another women's-health drug-injury mass tort (MDL 3140).• Bard / Davol hernia mesh lawsuit (MDL 2846) — a large implanted-device MDL.
• Bair Hugger surgical warming device lawsuit (MDL 2666) — alleged surgical-site infection claims.
Primary sources: U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) pending-MDL statistics; the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia MDL 2974 docket; and legal trade-press coverage of the first Paragard bellwether verdict.
Important Disclosures
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. You should consult a qualified attorney about your individual situation. OpenClassActions.com is not a law firm and is not a claims administrator, and this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.Free settlement alerts
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