Paragard IUD Lawsuit in California (Device Breakage Claims)

What California residents should know

California residents with Paragard claims are generally not limited to California state court. Most federal cases are transferred into the multidistrict litigation, MDL-2974, before Judge Leigh Martin May in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, which held about 4,071 pending cases as of June 1, 2026.

California law still matters: the state's filing deadline, discovery rule, damages rules, and procedural law can shape an individual claim even when the case is litigated in the MDL.

What California residents should know about the Paragard lawsuits

Cases filed by California residents in federal court are transferred into MDL-2974 before Judge Leigh Martin May in the Northern District of Georgia, where about 4,071 cases were pending as of June 1, 2026. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, and additional bellwether trials are scheduled in 2026; no global settlement exists.

California’s personal injury deadline is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Because a broken Paragard is often discovered only when the device fractures during removal, accrual and discovery-rule questions can be important. California applies a discovery rule: the period generally runs from when a plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury and its wrongful cause. A lawyer can confirm how the deadline applies to a specific California claim.

Sources: U.S. District Court, N.D. Ga. — MDL-2974 (Paragard) case page; Law.com (Daily Report) — first Paragard bellwether defense verdict (Feb. 2026); JPML — pending MDL dockets.

Possible eligibility factors

• A Paragard copper IUD used by California residents that broke or fractured during removal.
• Records identifying the device as Paragard and an operative note describing the breakage.
• Documentation of retained fragments, migration, or surgery to remove them.
• Filing within the deadline that applies to the claim under California law.

How California claims proceed

Most California Paragard cases are filed in or transferred to MDL-2974 in the Northern District of Georgia for coordinated proceedings. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, and additional bellwether trials are scheduled in 2026; no global settlement exists. California's personal injury limitations period is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1), but accrual and discovery-rule questions can be fact-specific when breakage is discovered at the time of removal.

What records support Paragard claims in California?

• Medical records related to diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms.
• Records showing use of, prescription for, or exposure to the product or substance involved.
• Pharmacy, clinic, employment, military, agricultural, or exposure records where relevant.
• Photos, receipts, dental invoices, pathology reports, or specialist records if applicable.

What exposure and legal context matter in California?

California residents may have had a Paragard copper IUD that broke during removal, leaving fragments that required imaging or additional procedures to remove.

Where are California Paragard cases handled?

Living in California does not necessarily mean the case will be filed only in California. Claims may be evaluated by national firms, filed in federal court, coordinated through MDL proceedings, or handled through another legal process.

Federal courts in California

• Northern District of California
• Eastern District of California
• Central District of California
• Southern District of California

What is the filing deadline for Paragard lawsuits in California?

For a California resident researching Paragard claims, the starting point is usually California's general personal injury period: 2 years under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. That is only a starting point, not a final legal deadline for every person.

The real filing deadline can depend on diagnosis date, when the injury and possible cause were discovered, exposure location, wrongful-death issues, prior claim paperwork, and whether the case is filed directly, transferred to an MDL, or handled through another process.

Discovery-rule note: California applies a discovery rule: the period generally runs from when a plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury and its wrongful cause.

How long do California residents have to file?

California's personal injury statute of limitations applicable to product liability claims is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Accrual timing, tolling, and repose periods can still change the real deadline in an individual case.

• Filing period: 2 years — Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1.
• Discovery rule: California applies a discovery rule: the period generally runs from when a plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury and its wrongful cause.

Because the controlling deadline depends on diagnosis date, discovery facts, exposure history, wrongful-death rules, and how the claim is filed, only a licensed attorney can confirm the deadline that applies to a specific situation. This page is general legal information, not legal advice.

What should California residents ask a lawyer?

• Are you currently reviewing Paragard IUD claims?
• What records do you need to evaluate my claim?
• How do California filing deadlines affect my situation?
• Would my claim be handled locally, nationally, or through an MDL?
• Do you work directly on this case or refer it to another firm?
• Are there upfront costs?