Formation of the MDL
In December 2020, federal lawsuits alleging that the Paragard IUD broke during removal were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Georgia. The case is captioned In re Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2974, and is assigned to Judge Leigh Martin May.[2]
A multidistrict litigation, or MDL, is a procedural tool used when many similar cases are filed in different federal courts. The cases are transferred to a single judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings, including discovery and motion practice. The goal is efficiency: one judge manages common questions of fact and law rather than having dozens of judges in different districts address the same issues separately.
The Companies Involved
CooperSurgical bought the Paragard copper IUD from Teva for $1.1 billion. Which company faces a claim in a given lawsuit depends on when the device was placed in the patient.[1]
Summary Judgment on Design Defect Claims
On November 21, 2025, Judge May granted CooperSurgical summary judgment on design defect claims.[1] Summary judgment is a ruling that resolves a claim before trial, issued when the judge determines that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the party opposing the motion based on the evidence in the record. This ruling means that design defect claims against CooperSurgical will not proceed to trial in the MDL.
The record we track does not show whether this ruling applies to claims against Teva, or whether other types of claims against CooperSurgical remain active.
The First Bellwether Trial
The first bellwether trial in the MDL took place in early 2026. The case was Rickard v. Teva. On February 3, 2026, the jury returned a verdict for Teva on all claims.[2]
Bellwether trials are test cases selected from a larger group of pending lawsuits. They are tried to verdict to help the parties and the court understand how juries may respond to the evidence and arguments. The results can inform settlement negotiations, though each case turns on its own facts and a bellwether outcome does not bind other plaintiffs or defendants.
In Rickard, the jury found in favor of the defendant. The lawsuits allege that the Paragard IUD broke during removal, but the jury in this first trial did not find Teva liable.
Current Caseload and Upcoming Trial Dates
As of August 3, 2026, there were 4,156 cases pending in the Paragard MDL.[2]
The second federal bellwether trial has been reset to April 12, 2027.[2] The record we track does not show which plaintiff or defendant is involved in that trial.
A related case in New Jersey state court was set for trial on September 14, 2026.[2] The record we track does not show the outcome of that trial or whether it proceeded as scheduled.
Settlement Status
As of August 3, 2026, there is no settlement in the Paragard MDL.[2]
What Is Not Known Yet
The record we track does not show whether the summary judgment ruling on design defect claims against CooperSurgical affects other theories of liability, such as manufacturing defect or failure to warn. It also does not show whether similar motions have been filed or granted as to Teva.
The record does not show the outcome of the New Jersey state trial that was scheduled for September 14, 2026, or whether additional bellwether trials have been scheduled beyond the April 12, 2027 date.
The record does not show whether settlement negotiations are underway, whether any individual cases have settled outside the MDL, or what the parties' current litigation strategy may be following the defense verdict in Rickard and the summary judgment ruling on design defect claims.
The record does not show how many cases involve CooperSurgical as a defendant, how many involve Teva, or how the 4,156 pending cases are distributed between the two companies.
Sources
- Paragard ownership (2017-11-01). Secondary report: tavrn.ai
- In re Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2974 (N.D. Ga.) (2020-12-01). Secondary report: legalexaminer.com
Litigation facts on this page come from the TortIntel litigation record and the documents linked above. Last checked against that record on 2026-10-24. If you see an error, tell us and we will correct it.