Table of contents
- Latest Paragard Lawsuit Updates
- August 3, 2026: MDL Count Reaches 4,156 Actions
- February 11, 2025: Court Rules on Limitations Motion
- December 16, 2020: Paragard Cases Centralized as MDL 2974
- July 25, 2019: FDA Sends Letter on Paragard TV Ad
- What Is Paragard?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Much Is a Paragard Lawsuit Settlement Worth?
- What Does the Paragard Label Say About Breakage and Removal?
- What Does the Research Say About Paragard Breakage?
- What Do Paragard Lawsuit Plaintiffs Allege?
Paragard copper IUDs are at the center of a federal lawsuit. Each plaintiff is a woman whose Paragard broke inside her body. Plaintiffs allege the breakage led to surgery, infertility and pain.
The cases sit in MDL No. 2974 in the Northern District of Georgia. It is not a class action. As of August 3, 2026, 4,156 actions were pending. No settlement has been announced.
Defendants dispute the allegations, and the court has made no liability finding for plaintiffs. Judge Leigh Martin May oversees the cases. Teva, which developed Paragard, and CooperSurgical, owned by The Cooper Companies, are named as defendants in these lawsuits.
Latest Paragard Lawsuit Updates
August 3, 2026: MDL Count Reaches 4,156 Actions
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 4,156 actions pending before the Northern District of Georgia in MDL No. 2974 as of August 3, 2026 [1]. Each action is a federal lawsuit over a broken Paragard.
February 11, 2025: Court Rules on Limitations Motion
The judge ruled on the defendants’ motion to dismiss cases barred by certain statutes of limitations and repose [2]. The court granted the motion for cases in some states and denied it for others.
Alabama personal-injury claims were dismissed as untimely. In Michigan, the court denied the motion for one plaintiff and granted it for the rest. The 57-page order sorts cases state by state.
December 16, 2020: Paragard Cases Centralized as MDL 2974
The Judicial Panel centralized the Paragard cases in the Northern District of Georgia as MDL No. 2974 [3]. The order covered 55 actions pending in 31 districts.
The panel described common allegations that the Paragard IUD tends to break upon removal, causing complications and injuries. It found that centralization would serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses.
July 25, 2019: FDA Sends Letter on Paragard TV Ad
The FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion sent a letter to The Cooper Companies unit CooperSurgical on July 25, 2019 [4]. It said a TV ad makes false or misleading representations about the risks associated with ParaGard.
The letter asked for a written response by August 8, 2019. It describes ParaGard as indicated for intrauterine contraception for up to 10 years. It says nothing about breakage.
What Is Paragard?
According to its FDA label, Paragard is a T-shaped intrauterine device (IUD) that measures 32 mm horizontally and 36 mm vertically [5]. The T-frame is made of polyethylene, with copper wire coiled along the vertical stem.
Teva developed Paragard and sold it to CooperSurgical, part of The Cooper Companies, in 2017. The FDA approved it under NDA 018680.
Who May Be Affected?
Women whose Paragard IUD broke while still inside the body, including during removal, may be affected. This may apply if they needed further care, such as surgery to remove the broken piece.
Court filings describe complications such as surgery to remove the broken piece, infertility and pain. Your own Paragard history decides whether a claim fits, and that takes an individual legal review.
Reported Injuries or Damages
Plaintiffs allege that Paragard can break on removal and cause harm that needs medical care. The defendants dispute the allegations and liability. The court took them as true only for the limitations motion.
The master complaint also alleges that the defendants received reports of over 2,000 Paragard breaks between 2009 and 2020. It says they did not investigate enough or warn on the label.
Two medical sources describe the risk of breakage:
- The label says “Embedment or breakage of ParaGard in the myometrium can make removal difficult.”
- Fernandez and colleagues reported a 2015 case series from one hospital department. They wrote that the IUD “can potentially be fractured upon its removal” [6]. A case series does not prove that Paragard caused any plaintiff’s injury.
Recall and Regulatory Background
The FDA’s July 2019 letter to CooperSurgical concerned a Paragard TV ad. It was an advertising action. It was not a recall and not about breakage. A regulatory action does not prove liability.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items if you think your Paragard broke:
- The IUD or any removed pieces, which you should not discard
- Medical, pharmacy, clinic or insurance records of insertion, removal, imaging and any surgery
- Lot or product details from the carton or your records
- Photographs of the IUD and any removed pieces
- Notes on symptoms, dates, missed work and costs
- Messages with your provider or the manufacturer
Anyone who suspects a Paragard broke during removal should talk with a healthcare provider. Records from the removal and any later imaging or treatment can help document what happened.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines to file a Paragard claim come from state law. They vary with where you live, when the device broke, when it was removed and when you learned of the injury.
A missed Paragard filing deadline can end a claim, even one with strong facts. Speak with a lawyer promptly so you know which deadline applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is a Paragard Lawsuit Settlement Worth?
How much a Paragard lawsuit settlement is worth cannot be stated, because no settlement has been announced. Each case would depend on its own facts, including the injury and the medical records.
What Does the Paragard Label Say About Breakage and Removal?
The Paragard label says the device should be removed if there is evidence of partial expulsion, perforation or breakage. When the device cannot be located, the label says gentle probing of the cavity, radiography or sonography may be required.
What Does the Research Say About Paragard Breakage?
Research on Paragard breakage includes a 2015 case series from one obstetrics and gynecology department covering 2012 to 2014. The authors wrote that clinicians should recognize the possibility of breakage. Cases were managed with sonographic imaging or hysteroscopy. A case series does not prove causation in any lawsuit.
What Do Paragard Lawsuit Plaintiffs Allege?
Paragard lawsuit plaintiffs allege that the rigid, T-shaped design is prone to snap at the arms. They also allege failure to warn and manufacturing defects. The defendants argue that FDA approval preempts the claims.