Bard PowerPort Lawsuit AttorneyEligibility and How to File a Claim

Thousands of patients who received a Bard PowerPort or similar Bard implanted port allege the device fractured, migrated, or led to serious bloodstream infections. Under product liability law, a manufacturer can be held responsible when a device is defectively designed, manufactured, or sold without adequate warning of its risks, and that defect causes harm to the person who used it. If you or a loved one suffered a complication after implantation, our attorneys are ready to review your case at no cost.

What Is the Bard PowerPort MDL No. 3081 Litigation?

MDL 3081 is the federal multidistrict litigation that consolidates Bard PowerPort lawsuits filed nationwide into a single court for coordinated pretrial proceedings. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized these cases in August 2023 before the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and the litigation is proceeding under the case caption In re: Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products Liability Litigation.

An MDL does not merge individual claims into one lawsuit the way a class action does. Each plaintiff's case remains separate, and each person's damages are evaluated on the facts of their case.

To help both sides gauge how a jury is likely to view the evidence, the court selected a small group of bellwether cases to be tried first, covering claims for fracture, infection, and blood clot.

Trials are scheduled for 2026 and early 2027. Outcomes in these early trials often influence how the remaining cases proceed, though no single trial result guarantees how another case will be resolved.

Why Choose Heninger Garrison Davis for a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?

Heninger Garrison Davis has recovered more than $3 billion for clients and represented plaintiffs in mass-tort and product-liability litigation for decades. Founding partner W. Lewis Garrison Jr. has led plaintiff litigation teams in national pharmaceutical and product liability cases, including the diet drug multidistrict litigation.

The firm accepts mass tort cases from clients across all 50 states. Heninger Garrison Davis handles Bard PowerPort cases on a contingency fee basis, so a client owes no attorney's fee unless the firm secures a settlement or verdict on their behalf. A free case evaluation is available for anyone who believes they may have been injured by a PowerPort device.

What Is Wrong With the PowerPort?

The PowerPort is a small implantable port, placed just beneath the skin, that gives clinicians repeated access to a patient's bloodstream for chemotherapy, antibiotics, fluids, and blood draws without a new needle stick each time. Sold by Bard Access Systems, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson, and Company) it was marketed as a durable, high-pressure "power injectable" device suitable for years of use. Plaintiffs allege that flaws in the catheter’s material and construction allowed the device to degrade inside the body, exposing them to life-threatening complications and emergency surgeries. Thousands of injured patients across the country have filed lawsuits claiming that Bard and Becton, Dickinson and Company knew or should have known about these risks and failed to properly warn implanting physicians and patients.

Injuries Linked to the Bard PowerPort

Catheter fracture: A cracked or broken catheter can allow fragments to travel through the bloodstream, potentially requiring emergency intervention to remove them.
Infection and sepsis: Cracks or rough surfaces on a damaged catheter may allow bacteria to collect near the device, increasing the risk of a bloodstream infection.
Thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: A blood clot can form around the catheter and, in some cases, travel to the lungs, a condition that is treated as a medical emergency.
Migration and erosion: A damaged catheter may shift from its original placement or push through the skin, sometimes requiring surgery to correct.

Do You Qualify for a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?

Eligibility depends on the specific facts of your medical history and device use, and only a licensed attorney reviewing your records can tell you whether you have a viable claim. Generally, a potential case may involve:

A Bard PowerPort, Port-a-Cath, or similar chemo port implanted at some point after the device came to market
A qualifying injury, such as catheter fracture or breakage, infection, sepsis, thrombosis, or device migration and erosion
Medical treatment connected to that injury, including device removal, replacement, or attempted removal

Compensation and Damages in a Bard PowerPort Case

A person who successfully proves a product liability claim connected to a Bard PowerPort may be able to recover several categories of damages. Well-documented fracture and migration cases remain the strongest cases. However, the amount and availability of each depend on the jurisdiction, the severity of the injury, and the specific facts of the case.

Potential damages can include:

Past and future medical expenses related to the injury and any device removal or revision surgery
Lost wages or reduced future earning capacity
Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
In some circumstances, punitive damages intended to penalize particularly serious misconduct

No attorney can promise a specific settlement value before reviewing the facts of a case, and no PowerPort settlement had been finalized as of this writing. Bellwether trial outcomes and continued discovery are likely to shape how individual claims are eventually valued and resolved.

Steps to Take If A Bard PowerPort Injured You

Seek medical treatment for any symptoms and follow your provider's guidance
Request copies of your medical records, including the implant date and any records of removal or complications
Keep a record of your symptoms, hospital visits, and related expenses
Contact a mass tort attorney promptly, since deadlines to file a claim vary by state

Talk to an Attorney at Heninger Garrison Davis

Fifteen Heninger Garrison Davis attorneys were named to the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and several firm partners hold membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only group of trial lawyers.

Every Bard PowerPort client is paired with a dedicated case coordinator who provides updates throughout the litigation, backed by attorneys available around the clock, so you are never left guessing where your case stands. Because filing deadlines vary by state, reaching out sooner rather than later helps preserve your options.

If you or a loved one had a Bard PowerPort implanted and later experienced a fracture, infection, blood clot, or device migration, contact Heninger Garrison Davis today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, the facts of your situation matter, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Bard Powerport Lawsuit FAQs

What is MDL 3081?

MDL 3081 is the federal multidistrict litigation that consolidates Bard PowerPort lawsuits from across the country before a single judge in the District of Arizona for coordinated pretrial proceedings. Each case still proceeds individually toward its own resolution.

Is there a deadline to file a Bard PowerPort lawsuit?

Deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, vary by state and generally depend on when the injury occurred or was discovered. Because these timelines differ, it is worth discussing your specific dates with an attorney as soon as possible.

Do I need to have had my PowerPort removed to qualify?

Not necessarily. Many potential claims involve a device that was removed, but each case depends on the injury and treatment history involved, so a device does not always need to be removed to warrant a case review.

What does it cost to hire Heninger Garrison Davis for a PowerPort case?

Heninger Garrison Davis handles Bard PowerPort claims on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and the firm only collects a fee if it recovers compensation on the client's behalf.

How long will the PowerPort litigation take to resolve?

Mass tort litigation can take years to reach individual settlements or verdicts, particularly while bellwether trials are still underway. Timelines vary by case, and no outcome or schedule can be guaranteed in advance.