Robert King Law Firm Comments On Recent Creation of Spinal Cord Stimulator MDL
ROCHESTER, NY, June 5, 2026: The Robert King Law Firm Discusses the JPML’s Decision to Create an MDL for Lawsuits About Spinal Cord Stimulator Injuries
June 5, 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JMPL) issued a panel order announcing the creation of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) for lawsuits related to alleged injuries from spinal cord stimulators.
The new MDL, which is called “MDL 3181 IN RE: Abbott Laboratories and Boston Scientific Corporation Spinal Cord Stimulator Products Liability Litigation,” will be a federal litigation in Central District of California courts. The lawsuits will be centralized under Josephine Staton, pending the consent of that judge and court.
This litigation involves consumers who allege that spinal cord stimulators made by Abbott Laboratories and Boston Scientific injured them. Eligible people who file a lawsuit against one of these companies can file their lawsuit as part of the MDL.
Robert King, founder of the Robert King Law Firm, whose firm represents people alleging harm from spinal cord stimulators, says that the decision by the JPML underscores the merit of these lawsuits.
“The JPML saw that there were enough people alleging injuries from spinal cord stimulators made by these two companies that centralization in a federal court was warranted,” said Mr. King. “There is real merit in these lawsuits. The patients deserve a less-burdensome avenue to pursue their claims.”
King Law has been speaking with people alleging injuries from spinal cord stimulators since 2025. These devices have a long history of FDA adverse event reports, FDA warnings, and device recalls. His team has seen first-hand the injuries spinal cord stimulator patients have endured.
“We have talked to clients who had more pain now than when their spinal cord stimulator was installed. The treatment should not be worse than the problem. Some of our clients have undergone painful revision surgeries after suffering from side effects for months or years. We believe spinal cord stimulator manufacturers had a duty to care to patients, and we do not think they properly upheld that duty.”
According to King, this centralization will help ensure consistent discovery, rulings, and court decisions. MDLs are a way to make large, complex litigations, like those involving consumer goods, drugs, or services, more efficient for all parties. In theory, an MDL should make litigation easier for plaintiffs, defendants, and the courts. In an MDL, discovery (i.e., the exchange of information for the litigation), expert testimonies, and some other aspects of the litigation occur jointly. This means that every plaintiff does not need to find an expert or coordinate with the defendant for documents. Those parts of the litigation are done for the whole group.
MDLs are complex litigations that often take years to unfold. When an MDL is created, it typically takes at least three to four years to resolve. However, this is much more efficient than letting hundreds or thousands of individual lawsuits play out in state courts. Also, unlike in a class action claim, plaintiffs’ cases remain independent in an MDL. That means each person who secures a verdict or settlement receives compensation tied to the merits of their own case.
“An MDL is usually beneficial for plaintiffs. It takes a lot of responsibilities off them. Going up against huge medical device companies like Abbott and Boston Scientific is a monumental task. People whose spinal cord stimulators hurt them deserve a team of attorneys fighting to prove what these companies knew, when they knew it, and what they did with that knowledge,” said Mr. King.
His law firm will continue to fight for clients who say their spinal cord stimulators did not stop their pain or caused additional pain. He and his team have been closely tracking this litigation and are ready to help people who were negatively impacted by these devices. Learn more about spinal cord stimulator lawsuits and the alleged injuries on the Robert King Law Firm site.
About Robert King Law Firm
The Robert King Law Firm is a national law firm focused on complex litigations, like mass torts, involving personal injuries inflicted by medical devices and drugs. The firm represents individuals and families in high-stakes cases involving corporate negligence, defective design, and product liability.
For further information or comments, contact Robert King Law Firm at (585) 496-2648.
Category: Medical Devices
