Depo-Provera Litigation: A Timeline of Events and What Comes Next

If you or a loved one has used Depo-Provera as a form of birth control and has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation. The mass torts attorneys at Federman & Sherwood can fight for you.

Depo-Provera is a birth control shot that women receive every 12 weeks to prevent pregnancy. Roughly one in every four sexually active women in the United States has taken Depo-Provera at some point. Recent studies have documented a link between these shots and a rare type of brain tumor. As a result, more than 100 women are currently suing Pfizer and the other companies that designed and manufactured Depo-Provera, with the lawsuit still in its beginning stages.

If you believe that you or a loved one has developed a brain tumor after using Depo-Provera, speak to the experienced mass torts lawyers at Federman & Sherwood. We can help determine whether you have a potential claim and can file the lawsuit on your behalf.

Depo-Provera Lawsuits Were First Filed in Fall 2024

The Depo-Provera litigation began shortly after a study in the British Medical Journal showed that women who used this contraceptive had more than five times the risk of developing a type of brain tumor called meningioma than those who did not use the product. As is the case after many of these studies are released, consumers who have used these products and have been sickened begin to file lawsuits seeking compensation, beginning a legal process that can take years from start to finish.

Plaintiff Kristina Schmidt filed the first lawsuit against Pfizer in the Depo-Provera case on October 1, 2024. The initial lawsuit was a product liability case that alleged the following:

• Pfizer and the other defendants knew, or should have known, of the connection between Depo-Provera and brain tumors, but they did not take steps to warn the general public of the danger.
• The defendants knew of the mounting number of adverse event reports filed with the FDA. Yet they still did nothing to update the warning label
• The defendants were aware of evidence that Depo-Provera was dangerous, yet they continued to sell the product.

Depo-Provera Lawsuits Are Now Multidistrict Litigation

The Depo-Provera lawsuits have been consolidated as multidistrict litigation (MDL), and they have been moved to the Northern District of Florida. Plaintiffs had initially filed lawsuits all over the country, but they were centralized in Florida because there were already related actions in the Northern District, and the court had the resources to handle this potentially large litigation. The number of lawsuits filed has surpassed 100 cases, and there are many more expected to be filed in the near future. Several new cases each month, and the rate of new cases is expected to increase now that the cases have been centralized and moved to Florida.

Next Steps in the Depo-Provera Lawsuits

MDL cases are different from class action lawsuits. They have common discoveries and facts that build the evidence, but they are tried separately in front of a jury. Discovery began on March 27, 2025, in this lawsuit. The parties are expected to spend the next several months gathering evidence from each other as part of the lawsuit process. Currently, discovery centers on the causation link between Depo-Provera and brain tumors. According to the schedule set by the judge, discovery is to last six months. After that, the following will happen in the case:

• At some point in early 2026, the court will rule on Daubert motions to exclude the other party’s expert witnesses.
• After the close of discovery, the parties may file motions for summary judgment, asking the judge to rule as a matter of law on the basis of material facts that are not in dispute.
• The first Depo-Provera cases are expected to go to trial in late 2026 or early 2027, assuming there is no settlement or motions for summary judgment that have been granted by the judge.

If you or a loved one has used Depo-Provera and been diagnosed with meningioma, you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations begins to run on the day when you knew or should have known that your brain tumor was caused by a defective product, which may be set at the day that the study was released in the BMJ. Even though the case is being heard in Florida, the statute of limitations depends on the state in which you live. The mass tort lawyers at Federman & Sherwood can explain how long you have to file your lawsuit.

Contact a National Mass Torts Law Firm Today

The mass tort lawyers at Federman & Sherwood help injured clients across the country, and we can fight for you and your family. Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys by visiting our website or by calling us today at 405-235-1560.