Cartiva Injury Lawyers Appointed to Leadership Roles in Federal MDL

Leadership appointments mark an early step in organizing the federal Cartiva implant litigation, as the court begins establishing procedures for coordinated discovery, future bellwether trials and potential settlement discussions.

The U.S. District Judge overseeing all federally consolidated Cartiva implant lawsuits has appointed a group of attorneys to leadership positions, giving them responsibility for coordinating the litigation and representing the interests of plaintiffs pursuing claims over premature implant failures and related complications.

The Cartiva synthetic cartilage implant was marketed as an alternative to big toe fusion for patients with degenerative arthritis affecting the joint at the base of the big toe. Made from a polyvinyl alcohol-based gel, the implant was intended to preserve more movement than fusion surgery while reducing pain.

However, concerns about the device increased after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Cartiva implant recall in October 2024. Although the manufacturer had promoted an 87% success rate during pre-market testing, post-market data reviewed by the FDA indicated success rates ranging from only 21% to 46%.

Following the recall, Cartiva toe lawsuits began to be filed nationwide, alleging the implants were defectively designed and prone to loosening, fracture, bone erosion, chronic pain and complete failure that may require additional surgery.

Cartiva Injury Lawsuit MDL

All Cartiva toe lawsuits filed in federal courts have been consolidated in the Eastern District of Arkansas before U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings. Judge Baker is expected to order the parties to prepare a few representative cases to serve as early bellwether trials, which will give plaintiffs and defendants an opportunity to see how juries will respond to evidence and testimony that would likely be repeated throughout the litigation.

On August 31, the judge issued an initial management order (PDF) appointing 13 plaintiffs’ attorneys to leadership positions in the litigation. The order assigns one attorney to serve as Plaintiffs’ MDL Liaison Counsel, two appointed to serve as MDL co-lead counsel, and 10 lawyers to serve as an MDL Steering Committee.

Such appointments are designed to represent the interests of everyone with a pending claim. This structure is common in mass tort litigation, helping ensure plaintiffs are represented consistently while channeling key information and decisions through a small group of lawyers rather than every firm involved nationwide.

The order also calls for a continuing series of status conferences to keep the parties and court up to date on the litigation. The next status conference is scheduled for October 8, 2026, during which additional deadlines and conference dates will be selected.

Following the bellwether trials, if no settlement agreement or other resolution is reached, Judge Baker would likely begin remanding the cases back to their originating federal courts for individual trial dates.

Cartiva Injury Lawyers Accepting Cases

Individuals who experienced a Cartiva implant failure may be eligible to pursue financial compensation through a Cartiva implant lawsuit, particularly if they suffered complications such as:

• Implant failure or fracture
• Subsidence, where the implant sinks into the surrounding bone
• Toe fusion surgery
• Implant replacement surgery
• Revision surgery

Product liability lawyers are reviewing potential Cartiva injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or expenses, and attorneys are paid only if a settlement or lawsuit recovery is obtained.

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