⚡ Quick Answer
What is the spinal cord stimulator lawsuit? Patients claim certain spinal cord stimulators malfunctioned or lacked adequate safety testing and warnings, leading to shocks, burns, lead migration, nerve damage, and revision or removal surgery. In June 2026, federal Boston Scientific cases were centralized in MDL No. 3181 in the Central District of California. Cases against Abbott, Nevro, and Medtronic are proceeding separately, and requests for Abbott and Nevro MDLs were argued on September 24, 2026. No settlements or verdicts have been reported yet.
Who Qualifies for a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit
Eligibility generally focuses on patients who received a spinal cord stimulator from one of the major manufacturers and suffered a serious, documented complication, especially one that required additional surgery.
Qualifying Criteria:
Devices & Manufacturers Named in Lawsuits
| Manufacturer | Devices Named | Litigation Status |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific | Precision, WaveWriter, WaveWriter Alpha | MDL No. 3181, Central District of California (created June 5, 2026) |
| Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical) | Eterna and other Abbott SCS systems | Individual cases; Abbott-specific MDL request argued September 24, 2026 |
| Nevro | Senza, Senza II, HF10 | Individual cases; proposed MDL No. 3195 argued September 24, 2026 |
| Medtronic | Medtronic SCS systems | Individual cases in federal and state courts |
What the Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits Allege
Changed Devices Without Full Safety Testing
Lawsuits against Boston Scientific allege the company used repeated FDA premarket approval (PMA) supplements to bring significantly changed devices to market without the full clinical testing a new approval would require.
Defective Design & Manufacturing
Plaintiffs claim devices malfunctioned in ways that caused electrical shocks, overheating batteries, burns, and leads that moved out of position, often requiring surgery to fix or remove the system.
Failure to Warn
The lawsuits allege manufacturers did not adequately warn doctors and patients about the risks of device failure, complications, and the likelihood of needing revision or explant surgery.
Injuries & Complications in Spinal Cord Stimulator Claims
The strongest cases involve serious, documented complications, particularly those that required another surgery.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Settlements & Compensation
As of this update, there have been no global settlements or jury verdicts in spinal cord stimulator product liability litigation against Boston Scientific, Abbott, Nevro, or Medtronic. The Boston Scientific MDL is in its early stages. Factors that typically affect the value of a medical device claim include:
- 🔪Additional surgery: revision or explant procedures significantly increase claim value
- 🩺Severity and permanence: nerve damage, paralysis, and lasting disability
- 📋Documentation: records identifying the device and linking it to the complication
- 💼Economic losses: medical bills, lost income, and future care needs
Disclaimer: No outcome is guaranteed. Every case depends on its specific facts.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit Filing Deadlines
Product liability deadlines vary by state, commonly 2 to 3 years, and a few states allow as little as 1 year. Many states apply a discovery rule, which starts the clock when you knew or reasonably should have known the device caused your injury. Some states also have a statute of repose that sets an outer limit regardless of discovery.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit Updates (2026)
Last updated October 2026. We update this section as MDL rulings, case counts, and settlement developments are reported.
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September 24, 2026 LatestJPML Hears Arguments on Abbott and Nevro MDLs: The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation heard oral argument on separate requests to create manufacturer-specific MDLs for Abbott and Nevro spinal cord stimulator lawsuits. The Nevro request (proposed MDL No. 3195) covers 17 federal cases across six districts. Abbott has opposed consolidation. A decision is pending.
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August 24, 2026Leadership Appointed in Boston Scientific MDL: Judge Josephine L. Staton appointed 19 attorneys to plaintiff leadership roles in MDL No. 3181, following an initial case management conference held August 5, 2026.
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June 22, 2026Plaintiffs File Separate Abbott MDL Request: After the panel declined to include Abbott in the Boston Scientific MDL, plaintiffs filed a new motion seeking an Abbott-specific MDL. A separate request was also filed for Nevro cases.
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June 5, 2026Boston Scientific MDL Created, Industrywide MDL Rejected: The JPML created MDL No. 3181, In re Boston Scientific Corporation Spinal Cord Stimulator Products Liability Litigation, transferring Boston Scientific cases to the Central District of California before Judge Josephine L. Staton. The panel declined to create a single industrywide MDL and denied centralization of the Abbott cases, leaving Abbott, Nevro, and Medtronic claims to proceed separately.
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May 28, 2026JPML Hears Original Consolidation Request: The panel heard argument in Milwaukee on a motion to consolidate federal spinal cord stimulator lawsuits against Abbott and Boston Scientific, which plaintiffs had filed in March 2026.
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Early 2026New Lawsuits Against Multiple Manufacturers: New cases were filed throughout early 2026, including claims that a Boston Scientific stimulator battery malfunctioned and had to be surgically removed, and new product liability claims involving Abbott's Eterna system.
Did Your Spinal Cord Stimulator Fail? Find Out If You Have a Claim
Attorneys are reviewing spinal cord stimulator cases nationwide. You pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Start My Free Case ReviewHow the Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit Process Works
Attorneys handle these cases on contingency: you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
- Free consultation: share your implant history, device (if known), and complications.
- Records review: your attorney obtains implant records, operative reports, and revision or explant records.
- Identifying the defendant: the manufacturer determines whether your case joins MDL 3181 or proceeds separately.
- Filing: your lawsuit is filed in the appropriate federal MDL or state court.
- Discovery and expert review: evidence on device design, testing, FDA submissions, and failure rates is exchanged.
- Resolution: through bellwether trials, settlement negotiations, or trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a spinal cord stimulator MDL?
Yes, for Boston Scientific. On June 5, 2026, the JPML created MDL No. 3181 in the Central District of California, before Judge Josephine L. Staton. The panel declined to create an industrywide MDL. Separate requests for Abbott and Nevro MDLs were argued on September 24, 2026, and a decision is pending.
Who qualifies for a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit?
You may qualify if you received a spinal cord stimulator made by Boston Scientific, Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical), Nevro, or Medtronic and suffered a serious complication such as electrical shocks, burns, lead migration, device failure, infection, nerve damage, or the need for revision or removal surgery.
Which spinal cord stimulator brands are involved?
Lawsuits name devices from Boston Scientific (including Precision, WaveWriter, and WaveWriter Alpha), Nevro (including Senza, Senza II, and HF10), Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical, including Eterna), and Medtronic. Your implant card or surgical records will identify your device.
Have there been any settlements?
Not yet. As of this update, there have been no global settlements or jury verdicts in spinal cord stimulator product liability litigation. The Boston Scientific MDL is in its early stages, and lawyers are still accepting cases.
Is there a deadline to file?
Yes. Product liability deadlines vary by state, commonly 2 to 3 years, and a few states allow as little as 1 year. Many states start the clock when you discovered, or should have discovered, that the device caused your injury. Speak with an attorney promptly to confirm your deadline.
