The Biggest 2024 Product Liability Cases
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on February 6, 2024
Trust that products will work as they should is an important part of the relationship between companies and consumers. However, manufacturing companies unfortunately are not perfect. Despite their best efforts, a defective, faulty, hazardous, and/or dangerous product can still sometimes end up in the hands of a consumer. In that event, usually, a product liability case arises. And if one product liability case grows into multiple, it might just grab the attention of the public. In most cases, this is because there is a very high number of consumers who all experience the same negative impact. Bulk cases against the same manufacturer’s product then forces companies to take action. If you want to see a few real-life examples, read more about 3 of the biggest 2024 product liability cases!
What are Product Liability Cases?
Before we get into the cases themselves, here’s a quick crash course on product liability.
Product liability laws help consumers who experience a negative impact from properly using a product. They set standards for consumers and companies alike so that neither can abuse the other. In the event of a successful liability case, the consumer must prove that they experienced an injury covered under liability law even after using the product correctly.
Injuries and overall negative impacts to health and well-being can be due to product defects regarding manufacturing, design, marketing, and breach of warranty. Product liability laws ensure the protection of consumer rights. They also make it possible for consumers to collect financial compensation for injuries from defective products.
1. C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh Lawsuit
Hernia mesh lawsuits are nothing new in the legal world. Most of the time, these cases are the result of individuals who experience the failure of a hernia mesh implant meant to treat their condition. If the mesh fails, it often leads to further injury, complications, and surgeries. According to ConsumerNotice, there were 24,837 total hernia mesh lawsuits pending in four multidistrict litigations as of January 2024.
Of those, 20,973 of those cases are against C.R. Bard with the number of cases continuously growing. C.R. Bard is a medical technology company that creates and manufactures medical devices, specifically their hernia mesh products. Bard’s hernia mesh implants have a high risk of eroding or shrinking following implantation. These defects cause severe side effects and chronic pain.
The two main grounds for hernia mesh lawsuits against Bard include:
- The fact that the hernia mesh has a defective design and/or manufacturing error
- Bard’s failure to warn people of the dangers of their mesh implants
The Bard Hernia Mesh lawsuit is over 5 years in the making, but Bard offers no settlement as of now. Presently, three bellwether trials have already taken place, and a fourth is scheduled for the spring of 2024. With so many injuries from Bard’s hernia mesh implants, it is certainly a 2024 product liability case to watch out for.
2. Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit
Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic chemical compound found in herbicides dating all the way back to the 1950s. Its toxicity even requires training to handle it safely, and is only available for commercial use. Now, studies are linking exposure to high amounts of Paraquat to the diagnosis and development of Parkinson’s disease. The link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease lies in the fact that it causes oxidative stress. This means that the dopaminergic neurons in the human brain are dying because of the exposure. This lack of dopamine production can lead to Parkinson’s Disease, as dopamine is necessary to transmit motor signals from the brain throughout the body.
The two main defendants in the current Paraquat cases are Syngenta and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. CosumerNotice states that as of January 2024, there are a total of 5,615 Paraquat lawsuits, with 5,051 of those still pending. 32 countries have a complete ban on paraquat dichloride, meaning that health organizations are aware of the chemical’s negative health impacts. Because manufacturers are selling a dangerous product with known risks without proper warnings, there are grounds for negligence.
3. Paragard IUD Lawsuit
The final lawsuit to watch in 2024 is the Paragard IUD lawsuit. The Paragard IUD (intrauterine device) is a form of birth control by Teva Pharmaceuticals with a convenient “easy removal” design. Unfortunately, “easy removal” is not the experience that many patients receive. Instead, a painful extraction process is required for the removal of their Paragard IUD. The plaintiffs of these cases allege that a Paragard IUD design defect causes it to fracture or break when removed. Some plaintiffs have even required surgical removal of pieces that broke off of the Paragard IUD upon removal. Additionally, many experience ongoing complications even after the device has been removed.
According to ConsumerNotice, there are a total of 2,493 Paragard lawsuits filed in the MDL, of which 2,416 remain pending.
Bring Your Louisville Product Liability Case to Cooper and Friedman, PLLC
This list of 2024 product liability cases is not exhaustive, and there are plenty more that might pop up. However, if you have experienced an injury due to a liable product, even if it is not large-scale, bring it to Cooper and Friedman. As product liability attorneys in Louisville, KY, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a liable product in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced product liability attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of product liability victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.