When a Life-Saving Tool Becomes a Threat: The AngioDynamics SmartPort Infection Crisis
You were likely told that receiving an implantable port catheter was a routine step in your treatment — a way to make chemotherapy or long-term IV therapy easier and less painful. But when that device leads to a cycle of infections, emergency surgeries, and hospital stays, the tool designed to help you becomes a source of trauma. If you received an AngioDynamics SmartPort at a facility like AdventHealth in Orlando and suffered through repeated infections, you are likely not a victim of “bad luck.” You may be a victim of a defective medical device.
The engineering behind the SmartPort is currently under a national spotlight. While the medical team in Orange County likely did their best to care for you, the device itself may have been failing from the inside out. We have seen cases where patients undergo one surgery to replace an infected port, only for the second device to become infected months later. This “double failure” is often the red flag that points away from surgical error and toward a fundamental design defect in the AngioDynamics product line.
At Attorney911, our trial team works through these complex defective medical devices cases by looking past the bedside and into the laboratory. We work until the evidence is frozen, ensuring that the corporations responsible for these devices are held answerable to the families they have harmed.
Can I Sue for an AngioDynamics SmartPort Infection in Orlando, Orange County, Florida?
Yes, if you can prove the device was defectively designed, manufactured, or that the company failed to warn your doctors about known risks, you have a right to pursue a claim. In Florida, products liability cases are a specific area of law where the manufacturer can be held strictly liable for the harm their product causes.
The central issue in the AngioDynamics litigation involves the material used to build the catheter. To make the catheter visible on X-rays or CT scans, manufacturers mix polyurethane or silicone with a radio-opaque substance called barium sulfate. The current lawsuits allege that AngioDynamics used excessive concentrations of barium sulfate, which is not properly integrated into the plastic.
Over time, this barium sulfate can “leach” out, leaving behind microscopic cracks and a roughened, irregular surface on the catheter. These tiny pits and cracks are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This process, known as biofilm formation, allows bacteria to colonize the device in a way that often resists even strong antibiotics. At that point, the only solution is often a painful surgical removal (explantation) and a risky replacement.
Florida Products Liability Law: Your Rights in Orange County
Florida law governs the legal framework for injuries that occur at medical facilities within the state. Under the Florida Statutes, victims of defective products must act quickly to protect their rights.
“A civil action for products liability shall be commenced within 2 years after the date the cause of action is discovered or should have been discovered.” — Florida Stat. § 95.11(3)(a).
While the law gives you a two-year window, the reality of a medical malpractice or products liability claim is that evidence begins to vanish long before the deadline. In Orlando, your case would likely be filed in the Orange County Circuit Court or, more likely given the national scope, be transferred into the federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) system.
Florida recently moved to a modified comparative negligence system under Florida Stat. § 768.81. This means that your recovery can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for your injuries. However, in a medical device case, the patient is almost never at fault for a bacterial colonization happening deep within their chest. The fault lies with the company that designed a surface that promoted that growth.
The AngioDynamics MDL 3079: How Your Case Fits Into the National Fight
Because there are hundreds of patients across the country suffering similar infections and injuries, the federal court system has created MDL No. 3079, centralized in the Southern District of California. This allows one judge to oversee the shared discovery process — the part of the case where we force the company to turn over their internal safety memos, testing data, and quality alerts.
Our Florida trial team works to ensure your individual story is not lost in this large federal system. We look for “prior notice” evidence — proof that AngioDynamics knew their catheters were cracking and leaching barium sulfate but kept selling them to Orlando hospitals anyway. If we can prove they intentionally hid these risks, Florida law allows us to seek punitive damages under Florida Stat. § 768.72 to punish the company for gross negligence.
What is My AngioDynamics SmartPort Case Worth?
Every case is different, and past results depend on the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes. However, within the context of mass tort settlement matrices, we can analyze potential case values based on the severity of the harm.
For a case involving an AngioDynamics SmartPort infection in Florida, we generally see a value range from $150,000 to $650,000.
- The Lower End ($150,000 – $250,000): Cases where a patient suffered a confirmed device-related infection and required a single surgical explantation and replacement, without long-term systemic health consequences.
- The Higher End ($450,000 – $650,000+): Cases involving multiple failed implants, systemic infections like sepsis or endocarditis, extended ICU stays, and permanent damage to the vascular system or heart valves.
To build this value, we look at your economic losses, such as the cost of the initial surgeries and follow-up hospitalizations, and your non-economic losses, including the physical pain and emotional distress of facing a life-threatening infection while already battling a serious medical condition. You can find more about how we value these claims in our guide to settlements.
The Insurance-Defense Playbook: How They Try to Blame the Patient
When you bring a claim against a massive corporation like AngioDynamics or their insurers, they rarely admit the product was the problem. They use a standard set of plays to devalue your life and your suffering.
- The “Hygiene” Defense: The company’s lawyers will dig into your medical records to find any excuse to blame the infection on your own hygiene or the way your home-health nurses handled the port. Our Counter: We use experts to show that the specific bacterial strain found in your cultures matches the type of biofilm that grows only on degraded surfaces — proving the infection came from the device, not your hands.
- The “Random Event” Defense: They will argue that infections are a known risk of any surgery and that yours was just an unfortunate, random occurrence. Our Counter: We point to the “double failure” and the physical condition of the explanted device. A random infection doesn’t usually happen twice in the same patient with the same brand of device unless the device itself is the common denominator.
- The “Stale Science” Defense: They may argue that the barium sulfate leaching theory is not widely accepted. Our Counter: We use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to show the jury the actual cracks and pits on your specific catheter, making the invisible defect visible.
Lupe Peña, a member of our team and a former insurance-defense attorney, knows these tactics from the inside. He knows how adjusters set their reserves and how they use delay as a weapon. We use that inside knowledge to stay two steps ahead of the defense.
Every Hour Counts: The Evidence-Preservation Clock
The most important piece of evidence in your case is the port itself. In a typical hospital setting, an explanted device is treated as biohazardous waste and destroyed shortly after surgery.
- Explanted SmartPort Devices: This is the “smoking gun.” If your port was recently removed or is about to be, we must send an immediate preservation demand to the hospital to stop its destruction.
- Pathology and Biofilm Cultures: These records at AdventHealth Orlando must be flagged. They confirm the specific bacteria that colonized the port.
- Device Identification Cards: These cards contain the lot numbers we need to trace your port back to the specific manufacturing batch.
If you have already had your port removed and the hospital destroyed it, we can still move forward using your surgical records and the national MDL discovery, but having the physical device makes your claim significantly stronger. This is why we urge victims to reach out before their revision surgery if possible. You can learn more about why acting quickly matters in our definitive guide to accidents.
The First 72 Hours: A Roadmap for Survivors
If you are currently facing a port-related infection or have just been told you need an explantation, follow these steps:
- Tell the Surgeon to Save the Device: Inform your medical team in writing that you want the explanted port preserved for testing. It is your property.
- Keep the Records: Save your device identification card and every discharge summary from the hospital.
- Do Not Sign Releases: The manufacturer may reach out to “help” with medical bills in exchange for a release. Do not sign anything until a lawyer reviews it.
- Log Your Symptoms: Write down the dates of your fevers, the pain levels, and how the repeated surgeries have affected your overall treatment.
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911: We can work through the process of getting the insurance claim started and protecting your rights in the MDL.
Why Attorney911 Stands with Florida Victims
We are a trial firm that takes Florida cases because we believe corporations should not be allowed to treat injured people as a cost of doing business.
Ralph Manginello has spent over 27 years in courtrooms, including federal court. Before he was a trial lawyer, he was a journalist — a background that taught him how to dig for the truth that companies try to bury. He is a competitor who hates to lose and a Million Dollar Member of the Trial Lawyers Achievement Association.
Lupe Peña brings a strong advantage to our clients: he spent years as an attorney for a national insurance-defense firm. He knows how the other side thinks, how they value claims, and how they use surveillance and delay to wear you down. He now uses that insider training to fight for the injured. Lupe conducts full consultations in Spanish without an interpreter. Hablamos Español.
We work on a contingency fee. This means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Our fee is 33.33% if the case is settled before trial, and 40% if we have to go to trial. We offer a free consultation 24/7 to help you understand your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main defect alleged in the AngioDynamics SmartPort?
The lawsuits claim the catheters are made with too much barium sulfate. This causes the surface to degrade and crack, which allows bacteria to hide and grow into “biofilms” that cause chronic, repeated infections.
How long do I have to file an AngioDynamics lawsuit in Florida?
Generally, you have two years from the time you realized (or should have realized) that your infection was caused by a device defect. However, every situation is different, and you should have an attorney check the exact deadline for your case.
Can I sue if I have already had the port removed?
Yes. In fact, most plaintiffs in the MDL have already had their ports removed because explantation is the standard medical treatment for a colonized device.
What if I was told the infection was just “bad luck”?
Most doctors are not materials science experts. They may see an infection as a common complication without realizing it was caused by a material failure in the SmartPort design. We use engineering experts to prove the real cause.
Does the hospital share the blame for my infection?
Usually, no. In these products liability cases, the blame lies with the manufacturer who sold a defectively designed device. Unless the hospital committed a specific error in placement or care, they are typically not the target of these claims.
What kind of damages can I recover?
You can seek compensation for all medical expenses, lost wages, and your physical and emotional pain and suffering. If the company’s conduct was especially bad, we may also seek punitive damages.
How does the MDL process work?
The MDL consolidates the pre-trial work (discovery) for hundreds of cases in one court. You still have your own individual case, but we use the shared evidence gathered against AngioDynamics to make your specific claim stronger.
What should I do if the hospital wants to destroy the explanted port?
You should immediately contact a lawyer to send a “spoliation letter.” This is a legal document that orders the hospital to preserve the device as evidence. If they destroy it after receiving this letter, the court may punish them.
Is there a fee for my first consultation?
No. At Attorney911, we provide a free and confidential consultation 24/7. We take the time to listen to your story and tell you honestly if we are the right fit for your case.
Why shouldn’t I just take a quick settlement offer from the company?
A quick offer is usually a low offer. The insurance companies want you to sign a release before you know the full extent of your damages or whether you will need more surgeries in the future. Once you sign, you can never ask for more.
If you are suffering, do not wait for the evidence to disappear. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 today. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we are ready to stand with you.