Mass tort lawsuit · Checked on November 3, 2026
Bard PowerPort lawsuit (port catheter): status November 2026
Yes, the Bard PowerPort lawsuit is active. About 4,345 lawsuits over Bard implanted ports were pending in federal MDL 3081 on November 2, 2026. Plaintiffs allege the catheters can fracture, move, cause infection or blood clots. Bellwether trials are under way: juries found for Bard in May and October 2026 and returned a $40 million verdict for one plaintiff in September 2026 (reported).
| Case | MDL 3081 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, District of Arizona |
| Judge | David G. Campbell |
| Pending cases | 4,345 (as of November 2, 2026) |
| Stage | Bellwether trials under way |
| New cases | Law firms are filing new cases |
| Next scheduled date | December 1, 2026: next bellwether trial (reported) |
| Last checked | November 3, 2026 |
What plaintiffs allege
Plaintiffs allege that C.R. Bard and Becton Dickinson implanted port catheters (PowerPort, SlimPort, X-Port and related models) were defectively designed and that the companies failed to warn of fracture, migration, infection and thrombosis risks. The companies deny the claims.
Where the case stands
- The cases are combined in federal MDL 3081 (verified, JPML report).
- First bellwether trial (May 2026): the jury found for Bard on failure to warn and could not agree on design defect (reported).
- Second bellwether trial (September 2026): the jury returned a $40 million compensatory verdict for the plaintiff (reported). This result applies to that one case only.
- Third bellwether trial (October 2026): the jury returned a verdict for Bard on October 30 (reported). The next bellwether trial is reported for December 1, 2026.
- Ports made by AngioDynamics and Navilyst are in a different MDL (3125).
Settlement status
No settlement had been announced as of November 3, 2026. We report a settlement only when a court order, a company filing or a company statement confirms it, and we never estimate payment amounts.
Updates
Newest first. Each entry says whether we read the record ourselves (verified) or it comes from coverage (reported).
- November 2026: The federal panel's report of November 2, 2026 listed 4,345 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- October 2026: Third bellwether trial: the jury returned a verdict for Bard on October 30 (reported).
- October 2026: The federal panel's report of October 1, 2026 listed 4,140 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- September 2026: Second bellwether trial: the jury returned a $40 million compensatory verdict for the plaintiff. It applies to that one case only (reported).
- May 2026: First bellwether trial: the jury found for Bard on failure to warn and could not agree on design defect (reported).
What law firms commonly ask callers
Law firms reviewing these cases usually ask about the following. This is general information, not an assessment of any claim:
- the port brand and implant date
- whether the port broke, moved, became infected or caused a clot
- removal or revision surgery records
Questions
Is the Bard PowerPort lawsuit real?
Yes. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 4,345 pending cases in MDL 3081 as of November 2, 2026 (verified). A pending case is a claim filed in court, not a finding that the claim is true.
When will the Bard PowerPort lawsuit settle?
Nobody can predict when or whether a mass tort will settle. What has been disclosed so far: No settlement had been announced as of November 3, 2026. We report a settlement only when a court order, a company filing or a company statement confirms it, and we never estimate payment amounts.
Does the $40 million verdict mean others will get the same?
No. A bellwether verdict decides one plaintiff's case. Each case depends on its own facts.
Sources
- JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending, November 2, 2026 verified
- Drugwatch on the September 2026 bellwether verdict reported
- Verus on the first bellwether trial reported
- Law.com on the third bellwether verdict, October 30, 2026 reported
Verified means we read the court, agency or company record ourselves on the check date. Reported means the fact comes from news or law firm coverage and could not be confirmed on a primary record.