Arizona Jury Awards $40 Million in Bard Port Lawsuit
A federal jury assigned full fault to defendants in a case involving a fractured implanted catheter.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Heart Disease
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On September 4, 2026, an Arizona federal jury awarded Kimberly A. Divelbliss $40 million in a product liability lawsuit concerning a Bard PowerPort implanted catheter. The verdict follows allegations that the medical device fractured within the plaintiff, leading to emergency surgical intervention.
Why it matters
This verdict serves as the second bellwether trial in the ongoing Bard Implanted Port Catheter multidistrict litigation. The outcome highlights significant legal liabilities for manufacturers facing claims of device failure and associated health complications.
The jury award of $40 million surpassed the plaintiff's pretrial demand of $10 million. Defendants were found 100 percent at fault for the device fracture which occurred two years after initial implantation.
The players
Kimberly A. Divelbliss
She is the plaintiff who successfully sued Bard regarding injuries caused by an implanted port catheter.
United States District Court for the District of Arizona
This federal court served as the venue for the second bellwether trial in the national multidistrict litigation.
The details
Kimberly A. Divelbliss alleged the Bard PowerPort caused heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias after a fragment lodged in her heart. The case was heard in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona as part of multidistrict litigation number 3081.
Timeline
September 4, 2026: Jury returned the verdict for the plaintiff.
Health Landscape
This verdict arrives as part of the broader Bard Implanted Port Catheter multidistrict litigation, which manages numerous similar device liability claims. The outcome acts as a bellwether, potentially influencing settlement negotiations for thousands of pending cases nationwide.
Patients currently utilizing implanted port catheters may need to consult with their healthcare providers regarding potential device monitoring or safety concerns. This legal decision underscores the importance of medical device vigilance and awareness of reported failure risks.
The takeaway
This case highlights the financial and clinical risks associated with medical device failure in long-term implants. Patients should maintain open communication with medical teams to monitor any symptoms of device malfunction following implantation.
Further reading
Learn more about device-related complications and risks in the Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Missouri Lawyers Media.
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