> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.legalexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Second Paragard IUD Bellwether Trial Rescheduled for April 2027 - URL: https://www.legalexaminer.com/lestaffer/health/second-paragard-iud-bellwether-trial-rescheduled-for-april-2027/ - Published: 2026-09-09T12:55:11.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T12:55:11.000Z - Description: Thousands of Paragard IUD lawsuits remain pending as the second federal bellwether trial moves to April 2027. A related New Jersey case is scheduled for trial this September. - Author: Legal Examiner Staffer - Tags: Health Thousands of Paragard IUD lawsuits remain pending in federal court in Atlanta, but the next bellwether trial will not take place this September as previously scheduled. The second federal bellwether trial is now scheduled to begin April 12, 2027, according to [Teva's SEC Paragard litigation disclosure](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/818686/000119312526323619/R22.htm?ref=legalexaminer.com). Teva said the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia entered an order setting the new trial date in July. The trial had previously been scheduled for September 28, 2026. The delay extends the wait for another federal jury to consider claims alleging that the Paragard intrauterine device can fracture or break during removal. The first federal bellwether trial ended February 3 with a defense verdict for Teva Pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, the federal litigation continues to grow. As of August 3, 2026, 4,156 cases were pending in the Paragard multidistrict litigation (MDL), according to the[ U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation](https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending%5FMDL%5FDockets%5FBy%5FActions%5FPending-August-3-2026.pdf?ref=legalexaminer.com). ## First Paragard Bellwether Ended in a Defense Verdict The first federal bellwether trial began in January and concluded on February 3, 2026, with a jury verdict for Teva Pharmaceuticals. Pauline Rickard brought the case, alleging that her Paragard IUD broke during removal and that Teva failed to adequately warn about the risk of breakage. The Atlanta federal jury ultimately rejected her claims. The verdict resolved Rickard's case, but it didn’t decide the thousands of other individual lawsuits pending in the MDL. That distinction matters in multidistrict litigation. An MDL allows federal lawsuits involving common factual questions to be coordinated before one judge for discovery, pretrial motions, and other proceedings. Unlike a class action, plaintiffs generally retain their individual lawsuits. Bellwether trials put selected individual cases before juries while the larger litigation remains pending. The results can give plaintiffs and defendants information about how juries evaluate evidence, claims, and defenses, but the outcome of one trial doesn’t determine what will happen in other cases. ## Why Are Thousands of Paragard IUD Lawsuits Pending? Paragard is a T-shaped intrauterine contraceptive that uses copper rather than hormones to prevent pregnancy. The federal litigation centers on allegations that the device can break or fracture during removal, potentially leaving one or more pieces behind. The [U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia](https://www.gand.uscourts.gov/20md2974?ref=legalexaminer.com) describes the litigation as involving allegations that the device has a propensity to break during removal, causing complications and injuries that can include surgery to retrieve broken pieces, pain, and infertility. The defendants dispute the allegations and liability. The[ Paragard IUD removal process](https://www.legalexaminer.com/lbaldwin/health/understanding-the-paragard-iud-removal-process/) can become more complicated when a device doesn’t come out intact. In some cases, additional procedures may be needed to locate or retrieve retained pieces. The federal cases have been centralized in the Northern District of Georgia since December 2020\. U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May oversees MDL No. 2974. ## A Related Paragard Case Is Set for Trial in New Jersey Although the next federal bellwether has been moved to 2027, another Paragard case could reach a jury much sooner. Teva disclosed in the same SEC filing that a related Paragard case pending in New Jersey state court is scheduled for trial September 14, 2026. The New Jersey case is separate from the federal multidistrict litigation in Atlanta and is not the second federal bellwether. It could be the next Paragard case to reach a jury while thousands of federal cases remain pending. ## Paragard Labeling Addresses Breakage During Removal The device's [FDA-approved prescribing information](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda%5Fdocs/label/2024/018680s074lbl.pdf?ref=legalexaminer.com) addresses the possibility of Paragard breaking during removal. The labeling instructs healthcare providers to examine the device after removal to make sure it is intact and notes that breakage of an embedded Paragard during non-surgical removal has been reported. The prescribing information also addresses steps that may be needed when a device can’t be located or is embedded or perforated, including imaging and, in some cases, surgery. ## What Happens When a Paragard IUD Breaks During Removal? When a Paragard IUD breaks during removal, part of the device may remain in the uterus, and additional medical care may be needed to locate or remove it.[ Symptoms of Paragard breakage](https://www.legalexaminer.com/lestaffer/all/what-are-the-symptoms-of-paragard-breakage/) can vary depending on what happened during removal and whether a piece of the device was left behind. Anyone who suspects their Paragard broke during removal should talk with a healthcare provider about appropriate follow-up care. Medical records from the removal and any subsequent imaging or treatment can also help document what occurred. Not every reported Paragard breakage will result in a lawsuit. For those who believe they were injured by a fractured device, factors such as their medical history, the circumstances of the removal, subsequent treatment, and applicable filing deadlines may affect their legal options.