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Victims are filing CPAP lawsuits because they allege that certain Philips Respironics CPAP machines, BiPAP, and ventilator machines contain defective sound abatement foam that can degrade, potentially releasing harmful particles or gases that pose health risks to users.
The crux of the issue lies with the foam that was intended to reduce noise and vibration in the machines. Over time, this foam can break down and emit particles that users might inhale or ingest. Furthermore, under specific conditions, such as high humidity or the use of unapproved cleaning methods, the foam might release hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air that users breathe.
The implications of inhaling or ingesting these particles and gases are concerning. Some users have reported various health issues, ranging from respiratory complications to more serious conditions like cancer. The CPAP lawsuits filed suggest that Philips was aware of the potential health risks and failed to warn the public or adequately address the problem, leading to potential harm to many patients relying on these CPAP devices for essential respiratory support.
Besides respiratory complications, exposure to affected devices could also lead to the following health issues:
Individuals who used the Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP, or certain ventilator devices and believe they suffered health issues or injuries due to the degrading sound abatement foam may be eligible to file a CPAP lawsuit. This includes both direct purchasers of the affected devices and those who were prescribed the devices for medical reasons.
Eligibility to file a CPAP lawsuit primarily hinges on demonstrable harm or potential risk from using the recalled Philips Respironics devices. One of the main factors for eligibility is the actual use of the affected CPAP devices, BiPAP, or specific ventilator machines. Individuals must be able to prove that they either purchased or were prescribed one of the implicated devices. The presence of the device’s serial number, medical records indicating the need for such a device, or purchase receipts can support this claim.
Another critical factor is the manifestation of health issues or injuries that can be reasonably linked to the use of these devices. Plaintiffs need to show that they suffered from conditions like respiratory complications, cancer, or any of the other side effects allegedly stemming from the degrading foam. Medical documentation detailing these health concerns, especially if these conditions arose or worsened after starting the use of the device, can provide a compelling basis for the lawsuit. The proximity between the use of the device and the onset or exacerbation of health issues is pivotal in establishing causation.
Here are the steps to file a CPAP lawsuit:
Legal professionals speculate that the potential CPAP settlement values for cancer-related injuries might range from $100,000 to $500,000. The exact amount might fluctuate based on the intensity of the injuries suffered by the individual claimants.
In September 2023, Philips proposed a resolution to a CPAP collective lawsuit addressing financial losses, yet no CPAP lawsuit resolutions for injury claims have received judicial approval. Meanwhile, in March 2023, the company’s CEO, Roy Jakobs, expressed Philips’ aspiration to finalize an agreement concerning financial damages by year’s end, as cited by Reuters.
Additionally, Philips aimed to settle matters with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2023.
Both plaintiffs’ and attendants’ attorneys handling CPAP cases issued a Preservation Order for the recalled Philips medical products and similar devices related to the lawsuits. This order aims to guarantee a just assessment of the condition of the devices as required for the defense of all parties’ respective cases.
Anticipation for a settlement in the Philips CPAP lawsuit is high, with expectations for a resolution in late 2024 or early 2025, as publicly stated by Philips CEO. The CPAP recall class action MDL has slowed in new cases, while lawyers representing consumers in the faulty ventilator issue have requested $95 million in fees from a settlement agreement amidst ongoing legal complexities, including claims of product damage by SoClean's cleaners.
Philips faces legal challenges over their product recalls, arguing against plaintiffs' demands for a mandatory recall, which they believe exceeds federal law requirements. The company is under pressure to ensure product safety while managing potential substantial settlements for personal injury and wrongful death claims.
The Philips CPAP recall class action MDL, after experiencing a rapid 300% increase in case numbers over the year, unexpectedly saw a decrease of 42 cases this month, leaving 742 cases pending. In related developments, Philips' motion to dismiss various plaintiffs' claims was challenged by a Special Master's recommendation, which the MDL Judge is likely to side with, potentially marking a significant legal hurdle for Philips.
Philips Respironics has recalled V60 and V60 Plus Ventilators due to identified flaws, impacting a total of nine ventilators distributed between the U.S. and the Philippines, with no reported injuries or deaths—a contrast to the issues arising from the CPAP machine recall. Meanwhile, the CPAP recall lawsuit MDL continues to grow, with a slight decrease to 70 new cases last month, and Philips has proposed a settlement agreement of at least $479 million.
Philips agreed to pay nearly $500 million to settle a part of the litigation related to the 2021 sleep apnea CPAP machine recall, which specifically addressed economic losses. Analysts suggest Philips could face settlements amounting to $4.5 billion for personal injury claims associated with the recalled devices.
A new CPAP wrongful death lawsuit, Morey v. Philips North America LLC et al., was initiated in California, with claims attributing cancer from the PE-PUR foam in the recalled devices as the cause of death. There were 698 ongoing cases in the various CPAP recall lawsuits and class action MDL against Philips, with 25 new cases introduced in the last month.
After Tepezza hearing damage lawsuits were consolidated into a new class action MDL, only one additional case was registered, bringing the total to 42. The slow initiation rate is considered typical for newly created class action MDLs.
30 more CPAP injury lawsuits were added to the class action MDL, bringing the current count to 548 cases. The low case number was attributed to Philips’ claims registration programs introduced at the litigation’s onset.
Between March 15 and April 15, 64 new CPAP recall lawsuits were added, marking the highest monthly volume since the litigation’s beginning, with a total of 518 by mid-May. Recent increases in the filing of new CPAP recall lawsuits in the MDL were due to procedural changes and the end of Philips’ registration program, highlighted by a case filed by Deidra Jackson Holmes against Philips on May 9, 2023.
Royal Philips allocated an extra $630 million and the previously earmarked $1 billion to settle CPAP lawsuits tied to the CPAP machine recall. The funds are intended for economic damage claims from CPAP machine users who haven’t alleged physical harm. The company’s CEO, Roy Jakobs, had anticipated settlements for personal injury and wrongful death cases this year or the next.
Plaintiffs responded to Philips’ motion to dismiss, emphasizing that the Master Complaint and Short Form Complaints in the MDL were mutually agreed upon for efficient case handling. The response further highlighted that historically, MDL judges have been lenient, and defendants bear the burden of proving preemption, especially for products marketed through the less rigorous §510(k) clearance process.
62 new cases were added to the Philips CPAP recall class action litigation in the past month, a significant increase from the monthly average of 9 new cases last year. With the claim registration program having ended recently, the uptick in case filings is expected to continue, and it’s predicted that the MDL will exceed 1,000 pending cases by the end of 2023.
Philips announced plans to eliminate over 6,000 jobs as a measure to regain profitability. This decision came in the wake of the company’s struggles following the extensive recall of its CPAP devices. Earlier in the month, a new CPAP recall lawsuit was filed, Braverman v. Koninklike Philips N.V., which alleges that inhalation of toxic foam particles from the devices led to the plaintiff’s mouth and tongue cancer, marking a unique claim in the ongoing litigation.
After Tepezza hearing damage lawsuits were consolidated into a new class action MDL, only one additional case was registered, bringing the total to 42. The slow initiation rate is considered typical for newly created class action MDLs.
30 more CPAP injury lawsuits were added to the class action MDL, bringing the current count to 548 cases. The low case number was attributed to Philips’ claims registration programs introduced at the litigation’s onset.
Between March 15 and April 15, 64 new CPAP recall lawsuits were added, marking the highest monthly volume since the litigation’s beginning, with a total of 518 by mid-May. Recent increases in the filing of new CPAP recall lawsuits in the MDL were due to procedural changes and the end of Philips’ registration program, highlighted by a case filed by Deidra Jackson Holmes against Philips on May 9, 2023.
Royal Philips allocated an extra $630 million and the previously earmarked $1 billion to settle CPAP lawsuits tied to the CPAP machine recall. The funds are intended for economic damage claims from CPAP machine users who haven’t alleged physical harm. The company’s CEO, Roy Jakobs, had anticipated settlements for personal injury and wrongful death cases this year or the next.
Plaintiffs responded to Philips’ motion to dismiss, emphasizing that the Master Complaint and Short Form Complaints in the MDL were mutually agreed upon for efficient case handling. The response further highlighted that historically, MDL judges have been lenient, and defendants bear the burden of proving preemption, especially for products marketed through the less rigorous §510(k) clearance process.
62 new cases were added to the Philips CPAP recall class action litigation in the past month, a significant increase from the monthly average of 9 new cases last year. With the claim registration program having ended recently, the uptick in case filings is expected to continue, and it’s predicted that the MDL will exceed 1,000 pending cases by the end of 2023.
Philips announced plans to eliminate over 6,000 jobs as a measure to regain profitability. This decision came in the wake of the company’s struggles following the extensive recall of its CPAP devices. Earlier in the month, a new CPAP recall lawsuit was filed, Braverman v. Koninklike Philips N.V., which alleges that inhalation of toxic foam particles from the devices led to the plaintiff’s mouth and tongue cancer, marking a unique claim in the ongoing litigation.
In a CPAP lawsuit, you can recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and potentially punitive damages if it’s proven the company acted with gross negligence or misconduct.
To qualify for damages in a CPAP lawsuit, you’ll need to demonstrate that you used the recalled CPAP device and suffered injuries or harm as a direct result, typically supported by medical records and other relevant documentation.
The duration to settle a CPAP lawsuit varies, depending on the specifics of the case and the number of claimants; however, many cases can take several months to years to reach a resolution.
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