Bard PowerPort Settlement: What Injured Patients Could Receive
Industry experts estimate that Bard PowerPort settlement amounts could range from $10,000 to nearly $1,000,000. So far, no global PowerPort settlement has been announced as of March 2026. The outcome of upcoming bellwether trials starting in April 2026 will set a value signal for these cases and potentially encourage a global settlement.
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- Legally reviewed by Whitney Ray Di Bona, Esquire
- Last update: March 5, 2026
- Est. Read Time: 3 min read
- Settlement Status
- No global settlement announced as of March 2026; first bellwether trial set for April 21, 2026
- Estimated Settlement Range
- $10,000 to $300,000 per case; severe injuries potentially up to $1,000,000
- Qualifying Injuries
- Fracture, infection, thrombosis or erosion — with device removal or attempted removal
- Bard Settlement History
- Bard’s parent company, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), has settled comparable mass tort litigation before, including thousands of hernia mesh cases for an estimated $1.7 billion in 2024
Has Bard Reached a PowerPort Settlement?
Bard has not reached a global settlement as of March 2026. However, the Bard PowerPort MDL 3081 is in the bellwether phase, with the first trial (Cook v. Becton, Dickinson and Company) scheduled to begin on April 21, 2026. The judge has scheduled other bellwether trials throughout the year, with the last one scheduled to begin on Feb. 19, 2027.
The jury outcomes of these bellwether cases will inform whether Bard and its parent company Becton Dickinson decide to offer a global settlement or instead defend each case in trial. The company could also potentially settle cases individually.
| MDL Status Snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Active Lawsuits | 3,003 |
| MDL Number | 3081 |
| MDL Court | District of Arizona |
| First Bellwether Trial | April 21, 2026 — Cook v. Becton Dickinson |
| Global Settlement Announced | No |
Bard PowerPort Settlement Amounts: What Attorneys Estimate
Attorneys estimate that Bard PowerPort settlement amounts could range between $10,000 and $300,000 per case. The most severe injuries could potentially settle for upwards of $1,000,000.
Factors that influence potential settlement value include injury severity, whether the device required surgical removal, duration of complications, and documented economic losses such as medical costs and lost wages.
| Injury Category | Qualifying Injuries | Estimated Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Range | Infection only, minor complications, quick recovery, no lasting damage | $10K–$50K |
| Mid Range | Device fracture, blood clot, or migration requiring surgical intervention, significant medical treatment and hospitalization | $150K–$300K |
| Higher Range | Severe injuries, including sepsis, cardiac complications, permanent nerve damage, long-term disability or death | $500K–$1M+ |
These are estimates, not guarantees, and no settlement has been finalized. Settlement figures on this page are attorney estimates only, and are based on industry research and comparable litigation outcomes. Any actual compensation depends on the specific facts of your case. Only a licensed attorney can tell you what your case could be worth.
What Factors Affect Your PowerPort Settlement Value
The main factors that affect your PowerPort settlement value include the injury severity and type, whether the device was removed and the amount of economic and non-economic damages.
- Injury severity and type:
- The main PowerPort Complications being cited in lawsuits are catheter fracture, infection, thrombosis and catheter erosion. Catheter fracture cases with surgical removal are more likely to be higher-value cases than infection-only incidents where the patient recovered quickly and didn’t have long-term complications.
- Device removal:
- Cases where the port was removed, required attempted removal or could not be removed due to potential complications may have a higher case value. If you didn’t have the port removed, you may not qualify to file a case.
- Economic damages:
- Higher medical bills, lost income and future care costs could increase value. For example, cardiac surgery, long-term antibiotic therapy and repeat hospitalizations typically increase case value substantially.
- Non-economic damages:
- If you can prove pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life or other emotional damages, your case may have a higher settlement value. This is particularly relevant for patients undergoing cancer treatment who experienced PowerPort complications during an already difficult period for them and their loved ones.
Each case is different, and only a licensed attorney can tell you what factors will affect your case. Make sure to speak with an attorney to learn how your case may be valued.
How Bellwether Trials Will Shape PowerPort Settlements
The outcomes of PowerPort bellwether trials can provide an idea of how much a case is worth to a jury, and in turn shape settlement negotiations. Bellwether trials are test cases selected from thousands of pending lawsuits in multidistrict litigation (MDL) or other large groups of similar cases, such as multicounty litigation (MCL), to give both sides a preview of how juries respond to the evidence.
For example, the first Bard PowerPort bellwether, Cook v. Becton Dickinson, is scheduled to begin in April 2026. The plaintiff in this case suffered an infection, so the outcome of this case will allow both sides to see how juries react to the evidence of infection-related injuries attributed to the PowerPort catheter.
| Trial # | Case / Date | Injury Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook v. Becton Dickinson — April 21, 2026 | Infection |
| 2 | Miller v. Becton Dickinson — July 7, 2026 | Thrombosis |
| 3 | Lattanzio v. Becton Dickinson — August 18, 2026 | Infection |
| 4 | Divelbliss v. Becton Dickinson — October 13, 2026 | Catheter Fracture |
| 5 | Hicks v. Becton Dickinson — December 1, 2026 | Thrombosis |
| 6 | Lloyd v. Becton Dickinson — February 2, 2027 | Infection |
A plaintiff verdict in the bellwether would validate the evidence in infection claims and help assign a potential settlement value. If the jury issues a defense verdict, it could push Bard and Becton Dickinson to more aggressively defend against these cases before considering a global settlement.
In a similar litigation, Becton Dickinson (Bard’s parent company) ultimately decided to settle about 38,000 hernia mesh lawsuits for an estimated $1.7 billion in 2024 after it lost several bellwether trials in its hernia mesh MDL. One jury awarded $500,000 to a man who said he was injured by Bard’s hernia mesh implants.
Bard's History of Mass Tort Settlements
Bard has had a history of mass tort-related settlements, notably transvaginal mesh settlements and hernia mesh settlements. Many of the settlements have been confidential, though one hernia mesh settlement was valued at over $1 billion.
The company’s history of settling claims, even for confidential amounts, shows that Bard/Becton Dickinson is willing to negotiate global settlements.
| Litigation | Settlement Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic Mesh | $21 million (estimated) | 2014 |
| Pelvic Mesh Marketing | $60 million (state marketing settlements, not plaintiff settlements) | 2020 |
| Hernia Mesh | Approximately $1 billion | 2024 |
| PowerPort | Pending — first trial April 2026 | — |
Although Bard hasn’t offered a public global settlement in IVC filter lawsuits, juries have awarded millions to plaintiffs. For example, in 2021, a jury awarded $3.3 million to a woman whose device migrated and fractured.
Do You Qualify for a PowerPort Settlement?
You may be eligible for a PowerPort settlement if you were injured by a Bard PowerPort or Port-a-Cath and file a PowerPort lawsuit under specific criteria.
- Your catheter was implanted on or after January 1, 2000
- You experienced one of the four qualifying injury types: catheter fracture, infection, thrombosis (blood clot) or device erosion.
- Your device was removed, an attempt was made to remove it, it was replaced, or removal wasn't possible due to danger.
It’s important to note that not all chemo ports are PowerPorts. Bard PowerPort devices use the Chronoflex catheter material, which is known to be prone to cracking and fracturing, according to lawsuits. An attorney may be able to help you review your medical records to verify the device type.
Frequently Asked Questions About PowerPort Settlements
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