Bard Power Port Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Patients have sued C.R. Bard over alleged Bard PowerPort catheter fractures, infections and thrombosis. The lawsuits allege the devices are defective, and some plaintiffs needed surgery. C.R. Bard defends the product in court. The cases are coordinated in MDL No. 3081 in Arizona. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict. The second ended in a $40 million verdict for one plaintiff. A third trial is scheduled for October 13, 2026. More than 3,000 lawsuits are coordinated in the MDL, and New Jersey state courts handle separate cases as a multicounty litigation. The FDA has also recalled some PowerPort models for labeling and device problems.

Latest Bard Power Port Lawsuit Updates

October 13, 2026: Third Bellwether Trial Is Scheduled

The third bellwether trial in MDL No. 3081 is scheduled to begin on October 13, 2026, according to Law.com [1]. Law.com also lists later bellwether trials for December 1, 2026 and February 2, 2027.

September 4, 2026: Jury Awards $40 Million in Second Bellwether

A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona awarded $40 million to Kimberly Divelbliss on September 4, 2026, according to Law.com. She alleged her PowerPort fractured and caused two heart attacks.

May 8, 2026: Defense Verdict in First Bellwether Trial

A federal jury in Arizona returned a defense verdict for C.R. Bard in the first bellwether trial, Law.com reported [2]. It was the first jury to decide whether the PowerPort device is defective. The jury ruled for Bard, so the trial ended without an award to the plaintiff.

April 21, 2026: First Bellwether Trial Opens

The first bellwether trial began before U.S. District Judge David Campbell. It was the first jury trial of the PowerPort claims. The trial was set to wrap up by May 8. Law.com reported that more than 3,000 lawsuits were coordinated in the MDL [3].

October 15, 2024: New Jersey Creates a Multicounty Litigation

The New Jersey Supreme Court designated lawsuits over Bard implanted port catheters as a multicounty litigation, according to its notice to the bar [4]. The order is dated October 15, 2024. The designation covers cases against C.R. Bard Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc. and Becton Dickinson and Company. It applies to state-court cases in New Jersey, separate from the federal MDL.

May 24, 2023: Plaintiffs Ask to Centralize Port Catheter Cases

Plaintiffs asked the federal panel on multidistrict litigation to centralize 10 actions over Bard implanted port catheters on May 24, 2023. The docket became MDL No. 3081.

What Is a Bard Power Port?

According to the FDA recall record, Bard implantable ports are used for therapies needing repeated access to the vascular system [5]. The port can infuse medications, I.V. fluids, parenteral nutrition solutions and blood products, and draw blood samples. Law.com says these devices sit under the skin and give repeated intravenous chemotherapy or other medications. The lawsuits on this page concern the PowerPort made by C.R. Bard, part of Becton Dickinson.

Who May Be Affected?

People with a Bard PowerPort who had a catheter fracture, a blood infection or thrombosis fit the circumstances in the lawsuits. The two bellwether plaintiffs show the pattern. Robert Cook had an infection linked to a PowerPort M.R.I. port placed in 2022. He spent six days in the hospital and had the port catheter removed by surgery, Courthouse News reported [6]. Kimberly Divelbliss needed emergency surgery in 2019. A seven-inch piece of a broken catheter lodged in her heart. Her port was implanted two years earlier. Whether you are affected depends on your records and an individual legal review.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The lawsuits allege that Bard PowerPort ports are defective. They say the ports cause blood infections, thrombosis and catheter fractures. Some plaintiffs allege infections that led to sepsis. Law.com reports the lawsuits allege the catheter, made with barium sulfate, tends to crack or break, sending fragments into the heart. Jury verdicts are results for single bellwether plaintiffs and do not rule on every claim.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The FDA lists three Class 2 recalls of PowerPort products by Bard Peripheral Vascular. A recall does not prove liability or show that a port caused any injury. The ClearVUE recall began February 8, 2018. Patient ID cards had incorrect port flushing instructions [7]. The 2019 recall began October 1, 2019. According to the FDA, ports shipped with the wrong tunneler barb tip. The PowerPort duo M.R.I. recall began March 25, 2021. Catheters may have difficulty in flushing, infusion and aspiration, and septum dislodgement [8].

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these items together in one safe place, because they may help a lawyer review your situation:

• Your port ID card, which lists the model and the lot.
• Implant and removal records, including the surgeon’s operative notes.
• Imaging of the port and catheter, such as X-rays or scans.
• Infection or culture results from your hospital or clinic.
• Medical bills and treatment records related to the port problem.
• Photos of the port site, taken as soon as a problem appears.
• Communications with the hospital or the manufacturer about the port.
• Any removed device, which you should not discard.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines for injury claims come from state law, so the time limit depends on where you live. The clock can also start when the injury and its cause were discovered. A late filing can end a Bard PowerPort claim, however strong the facts are. Talk to a lawyer promptly, because the time left may be shorter than you expect. Related Articles:

• Smiths Medical ProPort Implantable Port Recall

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Bard Power Port Lawsuit?

Yes, there is a Bard Power Port lawsuit. Patients sued in federal court under MDL No. 3081. In New Jersey, Bergen County Superior Court Judge Gregg A. Padovano oversees the state multicounty litigation.

Is There a Bard Power Port Settlement?

There is no Bard Power Port settlement reported so far. The bellwether trials have produced one defense verdict and one $40 million verdict, and each verdict covers a single plaintiff. More trials are still scheduled.

How Can I Tell If My Bard PowerPort Is Being Recalled?

To tell if your Bard PowerPort is being recalled, match the product code and lot on your patient ID card to the FDA record. The 2021 duo M.R.I. recall covers REF 1829570, lots REEW1060, REEX0568 and REEZ1841.

What Does the Research Say About Bard Power Port Problems?

The research on Bard Power Port problems includes FDA recall records, which describe labeling and device problems. The 2021 recall involved 189 units, the 2019 recall 178 catheters and the 2018 recall 4,044 units. The recalls do not address lawsuit claims.

Who Can I Call About the Bard Power Port Recall?

Call Bard recall customer support at 1-844-823-5433 with questions about the 2021 PowerPort duo M.R.I. recall. The FDA recall record lists this number for customer support. Questions about your own port should also go to your care team.

References

1. https://www.law.com/2026/09/08/2nd-bellwether-jury-awards-40m-verdict-over-bards-powerport-device/
2. https://www.law.com/2026/05/08/cr-bard-wins-defense-verdict-in-first-bellwether-trial-over-powerport-device/
3. https://www.law.com/2026/04/29/first-bellwether-trial-opens-against-bard-over-implanted-port-catheters/
4. https://www.njcourts.gov/notices/notice-and-order-approval-of-mcl-designation-of-bard-implanted-port-catheter-products
5. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=179655
6. https://courthousenews.com/bellwether-trial-kicks-off-over-bard-powerport-catheter-infection-claims/
7. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfres/res.cfm?id=163718
8. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=186691