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Case Summary
Yes, the Paragard lawsuit is real: as of June 1, 2026, 4,071 lawsuits are pending against Teva and CooperSurgical in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2974) over claims the copper IUD breaks during removal. The first bellwether trial ended in a defense verdict in February 2026, no global settlement has been reached, and Paragard has not been recalled by the FDA.
The Paragard lawsuit is an active, real piece of federal litigation, not a rumor or an internet myth. As of June 1, 2026, court records show 4,071 lawsuits pending in the consolidated Paragard litigation, MDL No. 2974, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The cases allege that the Paragard copper IUD is defectively designed and prone to breaking during removal, leaving fragments that can cause infection, organ damage, or infertility.
This article lays out the current status of the Paragard IUD lawsuit, the outcome of the first bellwether trial, what a Paragard lawsuit settlement might realistically look like, and the practical steps to take if you believe you were affected. Every figure below is sourced and date-stamped so you can verify it independently.
Is the Paragard Lawsuit Real?
Yes. The Paragard lawsuit is a confirmed federal court proceeding, not a class action rumor or marketing gimmick. In December 2020, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered roughly 55 lawsuits transferred into a single consolidated docket: MDL No. 2974, In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, assigned to U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May in the Northern District of Georgia.
The litigation names five corporate defendants tied to the device's manufacture and sale: CooperSurgical, Inc., The Cooper Companies, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Teva Women's Health, LLC, and Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc. Anyone can verify the docket is active by searching case number 1:20-md-2974 in the Northern District of Georgia's public PACER system.
The Paragard class action lawsuit label is technically inaccurate, though it's a common search term. This is a mass tort MDL, not a class action. In a class action, plaintiffs typically share a single settlement fund. In an MDL, each woman's case remains legally separate; only pretrial discovery and certain motions are handled together. That distinction matters because it means individual case facts, not a single formula, will determine any eventual payout.
What Is the Current Status of the Paragard Lawsuit Update for 2026?
The Paragard lawsuit 2026 update centers on one major event: the first bellwether trial, which went to a jury in the Northern District of Georgia beginning January 20, 2026. Bellwether trials are early test cases used in mass tort litigation to gauge how juries respond to the evidence before thousands of similar claims move forward.
After a two-week trial, the jury returned a defense verdict for Teva in February 2026, rejecting the plaintiff's claims that the company failed to warn about breakage risk or defectively designed the device. This was the first time a jury heard evidence in the Paragard litigation, and the result was a setback for plaintiffs, though it does not end the broader litigation or determine the outcome of other cases.
Following the defense win, Judge May pushed the second and third bellwether trials — originally scheduled for March and May 2026 — back to fall 2026, giving both sides time to incorporate lessons from the first trial and finish outstanding expert discovery. Separately, an interlocutory appeal on a preemption issue (whether FDA approval of Paragard's design and labeling shields the manufacturers from state-law claims) has reportedly been accepted for review by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which could pause parts of the litigation until it is resolved.
Paragard MDL Case Count Growth (2025–2026)
The number of pending Paragard IUD lawsuit filings has grown steadily as the litigation has proceeded toward trial:
| Date | Pending Cases in MDL 2974 |
| February 2025 | 2,937 |
| June 2, 2025 | 3,330 |
| September 1, 2025 | 3,569 |
| December 2, 2025 | 3,749 |
| April 15, 2026 | 3,982 |
| May 1, 2026 | 3,984 |
| June 1, 2026 | 4,071 (4,366 total cases filed to date) |
Bellwether Trial Timeline
| Trial | Original Date | Current Status |
| Bellwether Trial 2 | March 2026 | Postponed to Fall 2026 |
| Bellwether Trial 3 | May 2026 | Postponed to Fall 2026 |
Note: Some litigation trackers report slightly different original dates for trials two and three (March 3 vs. March 23, and May 11 vs. May 18, 2026); this reflects amended scheduling orders issued at different points by Judge May. Both the second and third trials have since been moved to fall 2026 regardless of which original date is cited.
Is There a Recall on Paragard IUD?
No. As of July 2026, there has been no FDA recall of the Paragard IUD. The device remains FDA-approved and available by prescription nationwide; CooperSurgical has not issued a voluntary recall, and the FDA has not ordered one.
The FDA has, however, taken narrower regulatory action short of a recall. The agency updated Paragard's warning label to address breakage risk in 2019 and again in 2024. Reporting citing the FDA's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database indicates more than 7,000 adverse event reports related to Paragard breakage have been submitted to the agency. Separately, the FDA sent CooperSurgical a letter regarding a promotional video the agency said may have been false or misleading about the device's side effects, and gave the company 15 days to respond.
A 2023 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Contraception, analyzing FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) data, found that breakage was recorded in 9.6% of copper IUD adverse event reports, compared with 1.7% for hormonal IUDs — a disparity plaintiffs' attorneys cite as evidence of a device-specific defect rather than a general IUD risk.
In short: Paragard lawsuit activity and an FDA recall are two different things. The lawsuits argue the device should have carried stronger warnings or a different design; they don't reflect an official government finding that the product must be pulled from the market.
Why Do Doctors Not Recommend the Copper IUD?
It's inaccurate to say doctors broadly "don't recommend" the copper IUD — Paragard remains a commonly prescribed, FDA-approved contraceptive, and major medical organizations continue to list it as a highly effective, long-acting birth control option. What has changed is that some providers now discuss breakage risk more explicitly during counseling, particularly around removal after long-term use.
The core concern raised in litigation and in some clinical discussions is mechanical: Paragard's T-shaped frame has rigid plastic arms that can become brittle or embedded after years in the uterus, and lawsuits allege the arms can snap or fragment during removal, sometimes requiring hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or in severe cases a hysterectomy to retrieve the pieces.
Other reasons some patients and providers weigh alternatives include heavier or more painful periods in the first several months after insertion (a known, labeled side effect unrelated to the breakage litigation), and the fact that Paragard offers no hormonal benefit for those seeking that effect. None of these tradeoffs are new or hidden — they're listed in Paragard's FDA-approved prescribing information. The lawsuits specifically target whether the breakage risk was adequately disclosed and whether the design itself is defective, not whether copper IUDs work as contraception.
How Much Is the IUD Lawsuit Payout?
As of July 2026, there is no confirmed Paragard lawsuit payout amount, because no global settlement has been reached and no jury has awarded plaintiff damages. The one case that went to trial — the January 2026 bellwether — ended in a defense verdict, meaning the plaintiff received nothing in that case.
Multiple plaintiffs' law firms publish speculative settlement ranges based on outcomes in comparable medical device mass torts, not on any confirmed Paragard figure. These estimates should be read as marketing projections, not guarantees:
• Tier 1 (permanent injury, hysterectomy, infertility, multiple surgeries): commonly projected at roughly $200,000–$400,000+
• Tier 2 (surgical removal of fragments, moderate lasting effects): commonly projected at roughly $75,000–$200,000
• Tier 3 (minor or short-term complications, no lasting damage): commonly projected at roughly $10,000–$75,000
These tiers appear consistently across several plaintiff-firm websites (TorHoerman Law, King Law, and others), but they are explicitly labeled speculative by the firms publishing them and are not based on any Paragard-specific verdict, settlement fund, or court order. Exact figures have not been publicly disclosed because none exist yet. Any attorney who guarantees a specific payout amount before your case is evaluated should be treated with caution.
If a global settlement does eventually happen, industry pattern suggests payouts wouldn't likely begin until 12 to 24 months after an agreement is finalized, and attorneys typically take a contingency fee of roughly 25% to 40% of any recovery.
Are Copper IUDs Bad for Your Body?
Not inherently — copper IUDs like Paragard are FDA-approved, hormone-free, and over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy for up to 10–12 years, and the large majority of users do not experience device breakage. The litigation and adverse-event data don't show that copper IUDs are unsafe as a category; they focus on a specific mechanical failure mode in one product line.
The documented risks fall into two categories. Common, labeled side effects include heavier menstrual bleeding, cramping, and spotting, especially in the first several months. Less common but more serious complications — the subject of the lawsuits — include the device breaking or fragmenting during removal, migration of the device or fragments outside the uterus, uterine perforation, infection, and in severe cases, loss of fertility.
The FAERS data cited above (9.6% breakage rate among copper IUD adverse event reports vs. 1.7% for hormonal IUDs) is the clearest verifiable statistic on relative breakage risk between device types, though it reflects reported adverse events, not the rate among all copper IUD users generally. Anyone with an existing Paragard device who has concerns should discuss removal technique and imaging options with their provider rather than delaying care.
Who May Be Affected by the Paragard Litigation?
You may have grounds to explore a Paragard legal claim if you:
• Had a Paragard copper IUD inserted and later removed, and experienced breakage, fragmentation, or a piece of the device left behind during removal
• Required a follow-up procedure — hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or surgery — to locate or retrieve device fragments
• Suffered organ perforation, infection, chronic pelvic pain, or infertility that you and a medical provider connect to a broken or migrated device
• Have medical records, imaging, or surgical notes documenting the complication
Having Paragard inserted or removed without complications does not, on its own, support a claim. The litigation is specifically about breakage and fragmentation injuries, not about the contraceptive itself.
What to Do Next If You Believe You Were Affected
This is general information, not personalized legal advice. If you believe a Paragard IUD injury applies to you, consider the following steps:
1. Get medical confirmation. If you suspect a device fragment remains in your body, or you're experiencing unexplained pain, infection symptoms, or bleeding, see a doctor for imaging (ultrasound or X-ray) before doing anything else.
2. Gather your records. Insertion date, removal date, operative or removal notes, imaging results, and any records of follow-up surgery are the core evidence in a Paragard IUD lawsuit.
3. Check your state's statute of limitations. Deadlines to file generally range from one to three years from the date of injury or discovery, depending on the state, though this varies and some Paragard-specific claims have already been dismissed on statute of limitations or statute of repose grounds. Don't wait to find out where your state's deadline falls.
4. Consult a Paragard attorney or products-liability lawyer. Most firms handling this litigation offer a free case review and work on contingency (no upfront fee; the firm is paid a percentage only if you recover compensation).
5. Report the adverse event to the FDA. You can independently submit a report through the FDA's MedWatch adverse event reporting program at fda.gov/medwatch, regardless of whether you pursue legal action.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Only a licensed attorney reviewing your specific medical records and state law can tell you whether you have a viable Paragard legal claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Paragard lawsuit real?
Yes. It is an active federal multidistrict litigation, MDL No. 2974, consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia before Judge Leigh Martin May. As of June 1, 2026, court records show 4,071 pending lawsuits against Teva Pharmaceuticals and CooperSurgical.
Is there a recall on Paragard IUD?
No. Paragard has not been recalled by the FDA or its manufacturer as of July 2026. The device remains FDA-approved and on the market, though the FDA updated its warning label regarding breakage risk in 2019 and 2024.
Why do doctors not recommend the copper IUD?
Doctors broadly still prescribe Paragard as an effective, hormone-free contraceptive. Concerns center specifically on breakage during removal in long-term users, which is the injury at the center of the lawsuits, not on the device's basic safety or effectiveness as birth control.
How much is the IUD lawsuit payout?
No confirmed payout amount exists yet. No global settlement has been reached, and the one case tried before a jury (January 2026) resulted in a defense verdict, not a payout. Law firms publish speculative estimates ranging roughly from $10,000 to $400,000+ depending on injury severity, but these are unverified marketing projections, not confirmed figures.
Are copper IUDs bad for your body?
Not inherently. Copper IUDs are FDA-approved and effective, and most users don't experience serious complications. The lawsuits concern a specific risk — device breakage during removal — documented in FDA adverse event data at a higher rate for copper IUDs (9.6%) than hormonal IUDs (1.7%), according to a study in the journal Contraception.
Is the Paragard lawsuit a class action?
No. It's structured as a multidistrict litigation (MDL), not a class action. Each plaintiff's case is legally separate; only pretrial proceedings like discovery and certain motions are handled jointly before Judge May.
How do I find a Paragard attorney?
Look for a products-liability or mass tort law firm with specific experience in medical device litigation, ideally one already involved in MDL No. 2974. Most reputable firms offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.