Paragard IUD
Plain-English guide to the Paragard IUD lawsuits: MDL-2974 status, allegations that the device breaks on removal, bellwether trials, who may qualify, evidence, and state deadlines.
This guide is for general information only. It does not provide legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and case status can change.
What the lawsuit is about
The Paragard lawsuit alleges that the Paragard copper IUD can break when it is removed — an arm of the T-shaped device fractures and leaves fragments inside the body — and that the makers failed to warn about the risk, sometimes forcing patients to undergo imaging and additional procedures (up to surgery) to retrieve the pieces. Federal cases are consolidated in MDL-2974 before Judge Leigh Martin May in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The defendants, Teva and CooperSurgical, dispute the claims.
As of June 2026, the litigation is active and in its bellwether-trial phase: about 4,071 cases were pending in MDL-2974 as of June 1, 2026, and the first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, after which the court weighed revising the bellwether plan. There is no global settlement.
Claim review usually turns on records confirming a Paragard IUD, documentation that it broke during removal, the complications or surgery that followed, and the state filing deadline.
Paragard Lawsuit Update: June 2026
The first Paragard bellwether trial concluded in February 2026 with a defense verdict for Teva. Afterward, Judge Leigh Martin May indicated the court would consider revising the bellwether plan before later trials — a signal that the structure of the test cases, not a settlement, is the litigation's current focus. As of June 1, 2026, about 4,071 cases remained pending in MDL-2974, and new cases continue to be transferred in.
Additional bellwether trials are scheduled in 2026. No global settlement has been announced, and a single defense verdict does not resolve the other pending cases, which turn on their own facts and evidence.
For people researching the case, the practical point is documentation: records identifying the device as Paragard, the operative note showing breakage on removal, and imaging or surgery records locating retained fragments matter more than settlement headlines.
Case snapshot
- Litigation: federal multidistrict litigation — MDL-2974, In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation
- Court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)
- Judge: Leigh Martin May
- MDL established: December 2020
- Pending actions: about 4,071 (JPML, June 1, 2026)
- Defendants: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA; Teva Women's Health; CooperSurgical; The Cooper Companies
- Alleged injuries: device breakage on removal, retained fragments, migration, perforation, removal surgery
- Settlement status: none; first bellwether was a defense verdict (Feb. 2026)
Litigation updates
- February 2026: The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva; the court then weighed revising the bellwether plan for later trials.
- 2026: Additional bellwether trials are scheduled; the MDL held about 4,071 pending cases as of June 1, 2026.
- 2021–2025: The MDL proceeded through discovery, device and expert issues, and selection of bellwether cases.
- December 2020: The JPML created MDL-2974 in the Northern District of Georgia before Judge Leigh Martin May.
Current status
The litigation is active and in its bellwether phase. Federal cases are coordinated in MDL-2974 for common discovery and pretrial work, the first test trial has been tried, and additional bellwethers are scheduled in 2026. New cases continue to be filed and transferred in, and no settlement program exists as of June 2026.
Who may be affected
The cases focus on people who had a Paragard copper IUD that broke or fractured during removal, leaving fragments that required imaging, monitoring, or procedures — sometimes including hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or hysterectomy — to address. Documentation identifying the device as Paragard and an operative note describing the breakage are usually central to a claim. Families evaluating wrongful-death or fertility-related questions should ask a lawyer how state law may apply.
Records usually reviewed
Because these claims hinge on a specific device failing in a specific way, the records that matter most are the insertion and removal records, anything identifying the device as Paragard, the operative or procedure report describing the breakage, imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or CT) locating retained fragments, and records of any surgery to remove them. Follow-up and complication records help establish the injury timeline.
Settlement status
There is no global settlement, and this site does not publish settlement estimates or "calculators." The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, and additional bellwether trials are scheduled in 2026. Bellwether outcomes can influence negotiating posture, but they do not set a value or guarantee any result for other claims, which depend on their own facts, injuries, and proof.
Sources and notes
- Federal court context: Federal Paragard cases are coordinated in MDL-2974 in the Northern District of Georgia; the JPML's December 2020 transfer order established the MDL, and pending-action counts come from the JPML's June 1, 2026 report.
- Bellwether context: The first bellwether defense verdict and the court's reconsideration of the bellwether plan are reported by Law.com (Daily Report, Feb. 17, 2026).
- Litigation status: This guide summarizes public litigation status and should not be treated as a live court docket. The defendants dispute the allegations, and this page does not assert that any defendant is liable.
- Review note: Case status, bellwether schedules, settlement posture, and eligibility factors can change.
- Last reviewed: June 29, 2026.
What injuries does the Paragard IUD lawsuit involve?
- Device breakage or fracture on removal
- Retained device fragments
- Migration of fragments
- Organ perforation
- Pelvic pain and infection
- Surgery to remove fragments (up to hysterectomy)
- Fertility-related complications
What evidence is needed for Paragard IUD claims?
- IUD insertion and removal records
- Records identifying the device as Paragard
- Operative or procedure reports
- Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT) locating fragments
- Surgery records (hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, hysterectomy)
- Follow-up and complication records
How has the Paragard IUD lawsuit progressed?
Paragard insertion and use
Claim review usually starts with records confirming a Paragard copper IUD was inserted and when.
Breakage on removal
Operative reports and imaging may document that an arm of the device fractured during removal and that fragments were retained or had to be surgically removed.
Claim review
A lawyer compares the device and injury timeline with MDL-2974 status and the state filing deadline.
What is the Paragard IUD settlement status?
There is no global settlement. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, after which the court weighed revising the bellwether plan; additional bellwether trials are scheduled in 2026. A bellwether result does not set a value for any other case, and no individual amount is guaranteed. The defendants dispute the allegations.
What are the Paragard IUD lawsuit filing deadlines?
Deadlines vary by state and may depend on diagnosis date, discovery date, exposure history, wrongful death issues, and other facts. A lawyer can evaluate how the relevant deadline rules may apply.
State-by-state guide links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Paragard lawsuit about?
Lawsuits allege that the Paragard copper IUD can break when a doctor removes it — an arm of the T-shaped device fractures, leaving fragments behind — and that this can require imaging and additional procedures, sometimes including surgery, to locate and remove the pieces. Plaintiffs claim the device was defectively designed and that the makers failed to warn about the breakage risk. The defendants, Teva and CooperSurgical, dispute the allegations.
How much are Paragard settlements worth?
There is no settlement and no official payout figures, so any amount circulating online is speculation. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026. Value in an individual case would depend on the injury, whether surgery was required, causation proof, and state law — and no amount is guaranteed for any claim.
Is the Paragard lawsuit a class action?
No. Federal Paragard cases are coordinated as multidistrict litigation (MDL-2974), where each plaintiff keeps an individual claim grouped for pretrial proceedings — unlike a class action, where one outcome binds the whole group.
When will the Paragard lawsuit be settled?
There is no settlement date. The litigation is in its bellwether-trial phase: the first bellwether ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, the court then weighed revising the bellwether plan, and additional trials are scheduled in 2026. Those outcomes typically shape any later settlement posture, and nothing is guaranteed.
Where is the Paragard MDL, and who is the judge?
Federal Paragard cases are consolidated in 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 (Atlanta). About 4,071 cases were pending as of June 1, 2026.
Who may qualify for a Paragard lawsuit?
There is no automatic rule. Claim review commonly looks for a Paragard copper IUD that broke or fractured during removal, records identifying the device, documentation of retained fragments or complications, any procedure or surgery needed to remove them, and the applicable state filing deadline.
What injuries do these lawsuits involve?
Filed cases describe the device breaking on removal, retained fragments, migration of fragments, organ perforation, pelvic pain and infection, surgery to remove fragments (in some cases up to hysterectomy), and related fertility complications. Medical records identifying the device and documenting the breakage are central.
Is Paragard still on the market?
Yes. Paragard remains an FDA-approved copper IUD that is still marketed. The lawsuits concern alleged breakage during removal and the adequacy of warnings — not a market withdrawal. Decisions about contraception should be made with a healthcare professional.
Does this page provide legal or medical advice?
No. This page is general legal information for research only and does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it is not medical advice.
Paragard IUD State Guides
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in California (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in Florida (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in Georgia (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in Illinois (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in Michigan (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
Paragard IUD Lawsuit in Missouri (Device Breakage Claims)
Active / Investigating
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Sources and Update Log
- Last reviewed
- June 29, 2026
- Last updated
- June 29, 2026
Sources reviewed may include court filings, MDL notices, public agency materials, manufacturer disclosures, and law firm case-status updates where applicable.
Recent updates focus on lawsuit status, state-specific context, eligibility factors, records, deadlines, and editorial disclosures.