Paragard

The Paragard IUD MDL 2974 remains active in the Northern District of Georgia before Judge Leigh Martin May with approximately 4,000 cases pending as of mid-2026. Teva Pharmaceuticals secured a complete defense verdict in the first bellwether trial, Rickard v. Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical, on February 4, 2026, with the jury rejecting failure-to-warn and defective-design claims. A second bellwether trial is scheduled for September 28, 2026, with no global settlement reached.

MDL 2974 remains in active bellwether posture before Judge Leigh Martin May in the N.D. Georgia. The second federal bellwether trial, originally set for September 28, 2026, has been rescheduled to April 12, 2027 per Teva's SEC disclosure and a July 2026 court order. A third bellwether trial is stayed pending resolution of an interlocutory appeal on federal preemption issues. Case management orders governing Plaintiff Fact Sheets, Defendant Fact Sheets, and Short Form Complaints remain in effect.

Approximately 3,595-3,926 cases pending in MDL 2974 as of mid-2026. FDA data: over 7,000 adverse event reports of Paragard breakage, nearly 6,000 classified serious, with 1,231 breakage reports in 2023 alone—highest annual total recorded. No global settlement; litigation in post-first-bellwether phase with defense verdict in Rickard v. Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical (N.D. Ga.). State SOL windows vary 2-6 years per source guidance; intake teams must prioritize SOL screening as MDL age exceeds typical product liability limitations periods in majority of states.

• Northern District of Georgia

  MDL 2974, In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, presided over by Judge Leigh Martin May. Approximately 3,595 cases pending as of April 2026 per Halstonberg; other source cites approximately 3,926 cases. First bellwether trial (Rickard v. Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical) ended in defense verdict February 2026; second bellwether rescheduled for fall 2026. Active discovery continues. Direct filing order permits cases to be filed directly into MDL.

• Buffalo/North Tonawanda, New York area

  CooperSurgical Paragard manufacturing plant site of repeated FDA inspections. 2022 FDA inspection faulted manufacturer for failing to 'adequately investigate breakage complaints' and failing to 'implement adequate corrective action and preventive action plans' (CAPAs). 2024 reinspection found 11 of 11 CAPAs still deficient per Spotlight on America. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System shows 1,231 breakage reports in 2023, highest single-year total on record; over 7,000 total complaints with nearly 6,000 classified as serious.

• California

  State with 2-year statute of limitations for product liability claims per general source guidance. SOL window narrowing for injuries discovered before 2024. Discovery rule may extend filing window for breakage cases discovered after initial injury event.

• Texas

  State with 2-year statute of limitations for product liability per general source guidance. SOL gatekeeping increasingly critical for new intakes as MDL matures.

• Florida

  4-year statute of limitations for product liability claims per general source guidance provides comparatively wider intake window.

• New York

  3-year statute of limitations for product liability per general source guidance. Proximity to manufacturing plant and FDA inspection site. Discovery rule applicable; breakage cases with delayed fragment discovery may retain viable claims.

• Ohio

  2-year statute of limitations with discovery rule per general source guidance. Cases require immediate SOL analysis for breakage events occurring 2022 or earlier.

• Pennsylvania

  2-year statute of limitations per general source guidance. SOL compression active for plaintiffs with breakage events predating 2024.

MDL 2974 (In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation), Judge Leigh Martin May, N.D. Ga. Defendants' Sept. 12, 2024 motion seeks dismissal of 236 cases across 11 states, arguing accrual at device fracture/removal—not subsequent injury discovery. First bellwether trial reset to Jan. 20, 2026 per sources. Intake must prioritize: (1) exact removal/fracture date over symptom onset; (2) state of filing vs. state of injury. No global settlement per sources; individual case viability increasingly SOL-dependent.