Filshie Clip Injury Lawsuits Against CooperSurgical Moving Forward in Connecticut State Court

Unlike typical contraceptive injury cases, Filshie clip lawsuits allege the small device caused long-term harm and organ damage years after implantation.

Eight women who filed Filshie Clip lawsuits after experiencing severe complications when the birth control device migrated out of position, have been cleared to pursue their claims in Connecticut state court against CooperSurgical, the U.S. distributor of the controversial implant.

In an order (PDF) issued on April 4, Connecticut Superior Court Judge W. Glen Pierson determined that CooperSurgical Inc., which is based in Trumbull, Connecticut, remains a proper defendant in the cases. However, he dismissed claims against Femcare Ltd. (UK), Utah Medical Products Inc., and The Cooper Companies Inc., citing a lack of personal jurisdiction in Connecticut for the out-of-state manufacturers.

The lawsuits involve complications from Filshie Clips, which are small medical devices made of titanium and silicone, designed to provide permanent female sterilization. First approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 1996, the clips are used in tubal ligation procedures to block the fallopian tubes and prevent pregnancy.

During the outpatient procedure, a pair of clips are surgically applied to each fallopian tube, creating a physical barrier that stops eggs from reaching the uterus. Marketed as a safe and minimally invasive alternative to more extensive sterilization surgeries, the Filshie Clips are intended to remain in place permanently.

However, a number of Filshie Clip lawsuits have been filed by women claiming the devices failed to remain in place as intended, instead migrating inside the body and causing severe, long-term complications. These injuries include chronic pelvic pain, internal scarring, endometriosis and inflammation, with some plaintiffs requiring major surgical intervention such as a full hysterectomy.

In each of the lawsuits filed against the Filshie Clip manufacturer and distributors, women allege that the birth control implants were defectively designed and patients were not adequately warned about the risk of serious Filshie clip complications that could occur when the device migrates out of position.

At least eight plaintiffs currently have lawsuits pending in Connecticut state court, including claims brought by Abby Grubb, Nichole Fiffia, Tarryn Fluellen, Jessica Pannell, Laura Smith, Katelyn Runyon, Agnieszka Brudzinska and Melissa Riddle. According to a report by Law360.com, each of the women raise similar allegations that they suffered injuries after the Filshie Clip migrated following implantation.

Their claims detail a pattern of serious and often irreversible injuries allegedly caused by the device. For example, Melissa Riddle underwent a full hysterectomy in 2023 due to internal scarring attributed to the clip, while another plaintiff, Nichole Fiffia, reports continued pain, swelling and menstrual complications, even years after having the clip surgically removed.

The lawsuits were brought under the Connecticut Products Liability Act, accusing the defendants of negligence, defective design, and failure to provide adequate warnings about known risks, seeking both compensatory damages for medical costs and suffering, as well as punitive damages for what they claim was reckless disregard for patient safety.

While the lawsuits name both domestic and foreign manufacturers and distributors as defendants, attorneys for Femcare Ltd. (based in the United Kingdom), and Utah Medical Products Inc. (based in Utah), and The Cooper Companies (based in California), successfully moved to dismiss the claims on the grounds that the companies have no significant ties to Connecticut.

In the April 4 ruling, Judge W. Glen Pierson agreed, referencing an earlier decision in Holliman v. CooperSurgical, which held that non-resident plaintiffs cannot bring product liability claims in Connecticut against companies with no in-state operations.

As a result of the ruling, CooperSurgical, which is headquartered in Trumbull, Connecticut, remains the sole defendant in the ongoing litigation. The court explicitly found that claims against CooperSurgical can move forward, given its direct presence and business operations within the state. While the dismissal of the out-of-state and foreign manufacturers narrows the scope of the case, the decision allows the plaintiffs to pursue full discovery and liability arguments against CooperSurgical in Connecticut state court.

Filshie Clip Injury Lawsuits 2025

For now, the Connecticut lawsuits against CooperSurgical may set an early tone for how future Filshie Clip claims are litigated, and whether broader accountability will eventually extend to the manufacturers behind the device.

As awareness grows about the risks linked to Filshie Clip migration and complications, attorneys are actively investigating Filshie Clip lawsuits on behalf of individuals who have suffered serious injuries after undergoing tubal ligation procedures involving the device. Common complications reported in these cases include:

• Chronic pelvic or abdominal pain
• Organ damage or internal scarring
• Endometriosis
• Inflammation and swelling
• Painful or irregular menstrual cycles
• Device migration requiring revision surgery
• Hysterectomy or other major surgical intervention

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries from a Filshie Clip, submit information for review by a lawyer who can help determine if you may be eligible for financial compensation through a potential Filshie Clip lawsuit settlement.