Bard PowerPort & AngioDynamics SmartPort Lawsuit Lawyer
Implanted Port Infections, Catheter Fractures, Blood Clots and Wrongful Death | Serving PA, NJ, NY, MD & DC
Short answer. The Siddons Law Firm represents patients and families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. who were hurt by a Bard PowerPort or AngioDynamics SmartPort implanted port. If a port caused an infection, a catheter break, a blood clot or a death that sent someone to the hospital, email msiddons@siddonslaw.com.
Last updated October 20, 2026.
Why we ask you to email us first
Port cases turn on records: which port was implanted, when, what went wrong and how it was treated. A phone call cannot confirm those details. Email us a short description of what happened and we will reply with the list of records we need.
Key Facts
| Bard cases | In re: Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3081, United States District Court for the District of Arizona in Phoenix, Senior Judge David G. Campbell. Created August 2023. |
|---|---|
| AngioDynamics cases | In re: AngioDynamics, Inc. and Navilyst Medical, Inc. Port Catheter Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3125, United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Judge Jinsook Ohta. Created October 2024. |
| Size | Thousands of Bard cases are pending. The AngioDynamics litigation is smaller and earlier in the process. |
| Trials | Bard test (“bellwether”) trials began in April 2026. In September 2026 a federal jury in Phoenix awarded $40 million to a woman whose port catheter broke and lodged in her heart. |
| Settlement | No global settlement has been announced in either litigation as of October 20, 2026. |
| Cost to you | No fee unless we recover compensation for you. Fee terms are in writing before any work begins. |
What Is a Bard PowerPort?
A PowerPort is a small device placed under the skin of the chest or arm, with a thin tube (catheter) that runs into a large vein near the heart. Doctors use it to give chemotherapy, IV medicine, nutrition and blood draws without a new needle stick each time. The PowerPort is made by Bard Access Systems, now part of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). Models named in the lawsuits include PowerPort, PowerPort isp, PowerPort MRI, PowerPort ClearVUE Slim, PowerPort Duo and ports with a Groshong catheter. The AngioDynamics cases involve SmartPort, BioFlo and Navilyst ports.
What Do the Lawsuits Claim Went Wrong?
The lawsuits claim that the catheter material in these ports can break down inside the body. In the Bard cases, plaintiffs allege that barium sulfate, added so the catheter shows on an X-ray, weakens the tubing over time, leaving small cracks and rough spots. They claim this can cause the catheter to fracture and travel through the bloodstream, and that the damaged surface makes it easier for bacteria to grow and cause infection. Bard denies the claims. These are allegations that each plaintiff must prove.
What Injuries Are Involved?
- Infection, including bloodstream infection and sepsis, often needing hospital care and removal of the port.
- Catheter fracture and migration, where a piece of the catheter breaks off and moves to the heart or lungs.
- Blood clots (thrombosis) and embolism.
- Perforation of a vein, the heart or another organ.
- Death from any of these complications.
Who Qualifies for a Port Catheter Claim?
You may have a claim if all of the following are true:
- You or a family member had an implanted port placed to receive chemotherapy or other medicine. Ports placed for dialysis do not qualify.
- The port was implanted after 2008. Earlier implants may qualify if the medical records still exist.
- A complication from the port, such as an infection lasting more than 30 days, a fracture, a blood clot, an embolism or a perforation, put the patient in the hospital.
A port infection during cancer treatment is often blamed on the illness or the chemotherapy. If the infection was traced to the port, or the port had to come out, the claim is worth a review.
Can a Family File a Claim if the Patient Died?
Yes. When a port complication causes or contributes to a death, the family may bring a wrongful death and survival claim. The claim is brought by the personal representative of the estate, usually a spouse or adult child. If no estate has been opened, we can help open one, including a small estate where the law allows it. Many port patients were very sick when they died, and families often assume nothing can be done. Send us what you know and we will tell you whether the records support a claim.
What Should I Send?
Email msiddons@siddonslaw.com with a short description and whatever you have of the following. Do not wait to gather everything.
- The port’s implant card or patient card, or a photo of it. It shows the brand and model.
- The date and hospital where the port was implanted, and the operative report if you have it.
- Hospital records showing the complication and its treatment, including any port removal.
- For a death, the death certificate and the name of the person handling the estate.
If you do not have the implant card, we can usually identify the port from the hospital records.
Where Do the Port Catheter Cases Stand?
Bard cases filed in federal court go to Senior Judge David G. Campbell in Phoenix, Arizona. He is holding a series of bellwether trials, test cases chosen to show how juries respond to different injuries.
| Trial | Injury | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April to May 2026 | Infection | Verdict for Bard on the warning claims; the jury could not agree on the design claim |
| August to September 2026 | Catheter fracture, fragment lodged in the heart | $40 million verdict for the plaintiff on design defect and failure to warn |
| October 2026 | Bloodstream infection | Trial set to begin October 13, 2026 |
| December 2026 | To be announced | Trial set to begin December 1, 2026 |
| February 2027 | To be announced | Trial set to begin February 2, 2027 |
One verdict does not set the value of any other case. Bellwether results help both sides judge the strength of the remaining claims. For how these consolidated cases work, see our plain-language guide to multidistrict litigation.
What Are the Deadlines?
Every state sets its own deadline (statute of limitations) for injury and wrongful death claims, and it can start running when the injury happened or when you learned the port caused it. The deadlines in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. are short, often two or three years. Email us now, even if you are still gathering records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a Bard PowerPort?
Check the implant card you were given after the procedure, or ask the hospital for the operative report. It lists the brand, model and lot number. If you cannot find either, send us what you have and we will request the records.
My port was removed. Can I still bring a claim?
Yes. Many claims involve ports that were removed because of an infection or a break. The removal records are often the best evidence.
Can I bring a claim for a family member who died?
Yes. The claim is brought by the personal representative of the estate. If no estate is open, we can help open one.
Has there been a Bard PowerPort settlement?
No global settlement has been announced as of October 20, 2026. A federal jury awarded $40 million in a Bard fracture case in September 2026, and more trials are set through February 2027.
How much is a port catheter case worth?
Each case depends on the injury, the treatment, the effect on the patient’s life and the medical bills. No lawyer can promise a result. We review the records and tell you what we see.
Do I have to travel to Phoenix?
No. The Bard cases are handled by the federal court in Phoenix for pretrial work. You do not need to travel there to bring a claim.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee: no fee unless we recover compensation for you. The fee terms are put in writing before any work begins.
Start Your Port Catheter Case
Email msiddons@siddonslaw.com with a short description of what happened, when the port was implanted and where. Attorney Michael A. Siddons represents patients and families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C.