On May 13, 2026, Moze Cowper gave his opening statement in Williams et al. v. Medtronic Inc. and MiniMed Inc.
Cowper Law LLP is currently representing plaintiffs in a product liability action involving Medtronic MiniMed 600 Series insulin pumps, including the MiniMed 670G system. The lawsuit concerns allegations that certain insulin pumps containing a clear plastic “retainer ring” component were defective and capable of causing improper insulin delivery. According to the allegations, a damaged, broken, loose, or missing retainer ring could allow the insulin reservoir to become unsecured, potentially resulting in over-delivery or under-delivery of insulin. According to the allegations, retainer ring failures can result in hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, loss of consciousness, seizures, and other serious injuries.
According to the allegations, Medtronic distributed an “Urgent Field Safety Notification” concerning the retainer ring issue on November 21, 2019. In February 2020, the FDA classified the recall involving certain MiniMed 600 Series insulin pumps as a Class I recall, the FDA’s most serious recall classification, indicating that use of the devices could cause serious injuries or death. The recall was later expanded in October 2021 to include additional pumps and replacement of pumps with clear retainer rings.
Plaintiffs allege that Medtronic failed to adequately warn the FDA about the alleged retainer ring defect by failing to submit certain adverse event reports, submitting adverse event reports that plaintiffs contend inaccurately attributed device-related failures to patient error, and failing to report other required safety-related information to the FDA. Plaintiffs further allege that Medtronic underestimated the frequency and severity of risks associated with retainer ring failures despite increasing reports of injuries and device complaints. The lawsuit also references FDA inspection findings, including FDA Form 483 observations and a December 2021 FDA warning letter concerning Medtronic’s diabetes operations. According to the allegations, the FDA identified concerns relating to complaint handling, adverse event reporting, risk assessment, and corrective and preventive action procedures associated with the insulin pumps.
The plaintiffs in the case allege that they or their family members suffered serious medical events after experiencing insulin pump malfunctions allegedly related to the retainer ring issue. According to the complaint, one plaintiff allegedly suffered severe hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness while driving, resulting in a collision with a train and serious injuries, including multiple fractures, collapsed lungs, and a prolonged hospitalization. Another plaintiff allegedly lost consciousness while driving during a hypoglycemic episode, resulting in a serious motor vehicle accident and burn injuries. Another plaintiff alleges an episode of severe diabetic ketoacidosis requiring emergency medical treatment and ICU admission. Another plaintiff alleges an episode of severe diabetic ketoacidosis, requiring emergency medical treatment and ICU admission. Medtronic denies liability and disputes the plaintiffs’ allegations.
The litigation is pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court's Complex Division. Trial began on May 11, 2026. The case has involved significant disputes concerning federal medical device regulations, FDA reporting requirements, product warnings, risk assessments, and the handling of adverse event complaints associated with the insulin pumps.
This website content is intended for informational purposes only. The allegations described above are disputed, and the Court has not made any determination regarding liability. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.
