Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuit (MDL 3140) — Eligibility & Status Tracker
Active multidistrict litigation against Pfizer in the Northern District of Florida — 3,769+ federal cases (May 2026), first bellwether trial Blonski v. Pfizer set for December 7, 2026. Lawyer-estimated case values $100K–$5M+ per case (NOT verdicts, NOT settlements).
Last reviewed: April 2026
⚠️ NO SETTLEMENT YET. This is an active federal MDL (3140) before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the N.D. Florida. First bellwether trial Dec 7, 2026. Daubert hearing June 24–26, 2026. Any dollar figures on this page are LAWYER ESTIMATES based on comparable mass-tort outcomes — not verdicts, not settlement amounts.
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Higher-tier injuries qualify for higher settlement tiers.
Estimated Settlement Tier
$105,000 — $195,000
Mass tort settlements use injury-severity tiers. Most MDLs have published payment matrices — your tier depends on diagnosis + exposure proof.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
The Depo-Provera Brain Tumor MDL — What’s Happening
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a long-acting birth-control injection manufactured by Pfizer Inc. (with generic equivalents marketed by Viatris and others). It has been used by tens of millions of women worldwide since FDA approval in 1992.
In March 2024, a large French cohort study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) by EPI-PHARE researchers found that women using Depo-Provera for more than one year had a significantly elevated risk of intracranial meningioma — a brain tumor. Subsequent JAMA-published research in 2024 and 2025 reported similar findings, with risk concentrated in women with more than 4 years of use or those who started use at age 31 or older.
Following these findings, thousands of women filed product-liability lawsuits against Pfizer. On February 7, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated federal cases into MDL 3140 — In re: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, before Judge M. Casey Rodgers. The FDA added a meningioma warning to the Depo-Provera label on December 12, 2025 (Supplement 74). The first bellwether trial — Blonski v. Pfizer — is scheduled for December 7, 2026.
Example Eligibility & Tier Profiles
Illustrative profiles for how MDL plaintiffs’ attorneys typically tier prospective cases. <strong>Any dollar amounts are lawyer estimates, not verdicts.</strong>
Profile 1 — 6 Years of Use, Small Meningioma, Watch-and-Wait
Began Depo-Provera at age 28 in 2015, used it for 6 years. Diagnosed with a small frontal meningioma in 2024 during unrelated MRI. Currently under active monitoring; no surgery.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 1 (~$100K–$400K). Estimate only — actual outcome depends on causation strength, bellwether verdicts, and whether tumor progression triggers treatment.
Profile 2 — Long-Term Use, Craniotomy Required
Used Depo-Provera from age 32 to 45 (13 years). Diagnosed with a sphenoid-wing meningioma in 2023. Underwent craniotomy and gamma knife radiosurgery; residual headaches and partial vision issues.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 2 ($500K–$2M). Started use after age 31 and used over 4 years — both elevated-risk markers per published studies.
Profile 3 — Severe Complications, Repeat Surgeries
Used Depo-Provera 1996–2008 (12 years). Diagnosed with an aggressive grade-2 meningioma in 2021. Two craniotomies plus stereotactic radiosurgery; permanent seizure disorder and cognitive deficits.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 3 ($2M–$5M+, estimate only). Top-tier MDL cases anchor settlement ranges; actual values depend on bellwether jury verdicts in December 2026.
Profile 4 — Wrongful Death (Surviving Spouse)
Wife used Depo-Provera 1998–2010. Diagnosed with grade-3 meningioma in 2020; died in 2022 after multiple surgeries. Surviving spouse asks whether estate has a claim.
Yes — wrongful-death pathway may apply, filed by estate or eligible survivors per state law. Top-tier MDL valuations typically apply to wrongful-death cases with strong documented causation.
Profile 5 — Pre-existing Meningioma Before Depo-Provera
Meningioma diagnosed in 2010, well before any Depo-Provera use.
Not eligible. Causation requires Depo-Provera exposure to plausibly precede meningioma development. A pre-existing tumor falls outside the MDL’s general-causation theory.
Current MDL Status (May 2026)
Where MDL 3140 actually stands. <strong>No settlement, no payouts, no claim form.</strong> What prospective plaintiffs can do is preserve the right to file (state SOL applies) and assemble medical/exposure documentation.
Sources: MDL 3140 docket (N.D. Fla., Judge Rodgers), JPML statistics, Pretrial Orders 17/30/31, public statements from MDL plaintiffs’ steering committee.
Who May Be Eligible to Join MDL 3140
Plaintiffs’ firms generally evaluate prospective Depo-Provera cases on these criteria. This is not legal advice — only a licensed plaintiffs’ attorney can confirm whether your specific situation qualifies.
- You used Depo-Provera, Depo SubQ Provera 104, or generic medroxyprogesterone acetate injections (typically at least 4 injections / ~1 year of use)
- You were diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma (or in some cases another brain or spinal tumor) — confirmed by MRI, CT, pathology, or similar imaging
- The tumor required treatment: surgery, radiation, gamma knife, or active monitoring
- There is a meaningful temporal link between Depo-Provera use and tumor diagnosis (typically diagnosis 6+ months after first injection, often years into use)
- You can provide medical records documenting both the Depo-Provera use and the meningioma diagnosis
Higher-risk groups per published studies: women with more than 4 years of use, women who started Depo-Provera at age 31 or older — though all qualifying users may be evaluated. Statute of limitations varies by state but is typically 2–6 years from diagnosis or discovery of the link; the FDA label change (December 12, 2025) is widely cited as a discovery trigger.
Depo-Provera MDL vs Other Active Pharma MDLs
How Depo-Provera compares to other active mass-tort pharmaceutical litigations the public often confuses with it.
| Depo-Provera MDL 3140 | Other Active Pharma MDLs | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Women who used Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and developed meningioma | Defined per each MDL’s class (e.g., Tepezza hearing loss; Hair Relaxer uterine cancer) |
| Fund / settlement status | No fund yet — pre-bellwether | Varies: some MDLs have global funds; others pre-settlement like Depo |
| Distribution timing | Bellwether trial Dec 7, 2026 (Blonski); no payouts yet | Varies — some paying out, others still pre-trial |
| Defendants | Pfizer Inc. (Viatris generics) | Single or multiple defendants depending on MDL |
| Filing deadline | State SOL (2–6 years typical, FDA Dec 12 2025 label change widely cited as discovery trigger) | Each MDL has its own filing deadlines and SOL rules |
| Court / docket | MDL 3140, U.S. District Court, N.D. Florida (Judge Rodgers) | Each MDL is docketed before a different federal district court |
Reported Case-Value Ranges (Lawyer Estimates Only)
Multiple plaintiffs’ firms publish estimated per-case ranges that are often quoted as $100,000 to $5,000,000+. These are lawyer projections drawn from comparable pharmaceutical mass-tort outcomes — NOT verdicts in this MDL and NOT a settlement amount. As of May 2026 Pfizer has not reached any global settlement and no bellwether jury has yet returned a verdict. The first real data point will come from Blonski v. Pfizer in December 2026.
- Lower tier: smaller meningioma, fully treated, limited ongoing impact, shorter use history.
- Middle tier: meningioma requiring craniotomy / radiosurgery with documented residual neurological symptoms.
- Top tier: severe complications, repeat surgeries, permanent neurological deficits, wrongful death.
| Tier | Source | Estimated Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Smaller meningioma, limited treatment | Lawyer-estimated range | ~$100,000–$400,000 (estimate, not a verdict) |
| Tier 2 — Surgical / radiosurgical intervention, ongoing symptoms | Lawyer-estimated range | ~$500,000–$2,000,000 (estimate, not a verdict) |
| Tier 3 — Severe / repeat surgeries / wrongful death | Lawyer-estimated range (top-tier MDL cases) | $2,000,000–$5,000,000+ (estimate; depends on bellwether outcomes) |
Depo-Provera MDL Timeline
- 1
1992: Depo-Provera FDA Approved
Pfizer receives FDA approval for Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) as a long-acting contraceptive injection. Used by millions of women globally over the following decades.
- 2
March 2024: BMJ EPI-PHARE Study Published
A large French nationwide cohort study published in the British Medical Journal by EPI-PHARE researchers finds that women using Depo-Provera for more than one year had several times elevated risk of intracranial meningioma compared to non-users. This study becomes the scientific anchor for subsequent litigation.
- 3
Late 2024: Initial Filings Surge + JPML Transfer Motion
Plaintiffs’ firms nationwide begin accepting cases. On November 26, 2024 the Memorandum in Support of Motion for Transfer to Create MDL is filed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
- 4
February 7, 2025: MDL 3140 Created in N.D. Florida
The JPML consolidates federal Depo-Provera cases into MDL 3140 — In re: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation — before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida (Pensacola Division). Christopher Seeger appointed lead counsel.
- 5
Dec 2025 – Dec 2026: FDA Warning + Daubert + First Bellwether
December 12, 2025 — FDA adds meningioma warning to the Depo-Provera label (Supplement 74). PTO 30 preemption briefing concludes February 27, 2026. Daubert / Rule 702 hearing scheduled June 24–26, 2026. First bellwether trial Blonski v. Pfizer set for December 7, 2026. Case inventory ~3,769+ federal cases by May 2026, growing approximately 650 per month.
Why This Case Matters
Depo-Provera is one of the most rapidly growing pharmaceutical mass torts of the 2020s. Outcomes will affect (a) how the FDA handles late-arriving safety signals on widely prescribed medications, (b) the playbook for product-liability cases involving contraceptive injections and other long-half-life products, (c) how plaintiffs’ firms tier and value claims after the FDA-warning ‘discovery trigger,’ and (d) compensation for thousands of women diagnosed with serious brain tumors. The FDA’s December 2025 label change is widely viewed by attorneys as materially weakening Pfizer’s federal preemption defense. Related active mass torts: Hair Relaxer (uterine cancer), Tepezza (hearing loss), Tylenol Autism.
Depo-Provera Lawsuit Scams — Don’t Get Tricked
Pre-settlement mass torts with FDA-warning catalysts attract heavy scammer attention. These are the most common Depo-Provera-specific patterns to recognize.
⚠️ “Guaranteed Depo-Provera payout” promises
There is no settlement and no payout schedule. Anyone — ad, call, social-media post — promising a specific guaranteed dollar amount is misleading you. Legitimate plaintiffs’ attorneys discuss estimated ranges and clearly disclose uncertainty.
⚠️ Fee demands before retainer signed
Real MDL plaintiffs’ attorneys work on contingency — paid only if you recover. No legitimate firm requires up-front fees, claim-processing fees, or “evaluation deposits.”
⚠️ Calls asking for SSN, bank, or Medicare/Medicaid info before retainer signed
An attorney needs medical-records authorization and basic contact info to evaluate. Detailed financial / SSN / Medicare data should not be collected by cold-callers before a signed engagement.
⚠️ Settlement “check release” advance fees
Because no settlement exists, anyone claiming to need a small fee to “release your Depo-Provera settlement check” is running an advance-fee fraud. Hang up.
⚠️ Lead-gen sites that don’t disclose they’re middlemen
Many “Depo-Provera settlement” websites are pure lead-gen and sell your info to multiple firms. Look for clear attorney disclosures and a named law firm; if it’s anonymous and ad-driven, treat it skeptically.
Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuit FAQs
Has the Depo-Provera lawsuit been settled?
No. As of May 2026, no global Depo-Provera settlement has been announced. The first bellwether trial (Blonski v. Pfizer) is scheduled for December 7, 2026. Bellwether outcomes typically catalyze settlement talks but do not guarantee a settlement.
How much will I get from a Depo-Provera lawsuit?
Nobody knows yet, because no jury has decided a Depo-Provera case and Pfizer has not agreed to any settlement framework. Plaintiffs’ lawyers publish estimated ranges ($100K–$5M+ per case depending on severity), but these are projections from comparable pharmaceutical mass torts, not verdicts.
What injuries does the MDL cover?
Primary injury: intracranial meningioma (brain tumor). Some firms also evaluate other brain or spinal tumors potentially linked to Depo-Provera use, though intracranial meningioma is the MDL’s core focus. Wrongful-death cases involving qualifying tumors are explicitly within scope.
Is it too late to file?
Maybe — it depends on your state and when you were diagnosed. Statute-of-limitations clocks vary by state (typically 2–6 years from diagnosis or from discovery of the link). The FDA’s December 12, 2025 meningioma label change is widely cited by plaintiffs’ lawyers as the formal “discovery trigger” for the SOL clock. Don’t wait — missing the deadline permanently bars the claim.
Do I need to pay an attorney up front?
No. MDL plaintiffs’ firms work on contingency — they’re paid a percentage of any recovery (commonly around 33–40%). If there’s no recovery, you owe no fee. Up-front fees are a red flag.
Can my family file if my mother / sister died of a meningioma?
Yes — a wrongful-death pathway may apply, filed by the estate or surviving family members per state law. Documented multi-year Depo-Provera use plus intracranial meningioma as cause of death typically anchors a strong claim. Consult an MDL-experienced attorney about timing and standing.
Does the FDA December 2025 label change automatically mean Pfizer will lose?
No. The FDA’s addition of a meningioma warning to the Depo-Provera label (Supplement 74, Dec 12, 2025) is widely viewed as materially weakening Pfizer’s federal preemption defense (because Pfizer can no longer credibly argue the FDA prohibited the warning). It does not automatically resolve causation, individual exposure, or damages questions, which still need to be litigated through Daubert and bellwether trials.
Will my Depo-Provera recovery (if any) be taxable?
Compensation for personal physical injury or sickness is generally not taxable under IRC Section 104(a)(2). Punitive-damages portions and interest are usually taxable. This is not tax advice — consult a tax professional if you receive a recovery.
What’s Still Uncertain
Every dollar figure on this page is a lawyer estimate. The MDL is pre-settlement and pre-verdict; the first bellwether (Blonski v. Pfizer) doesn’t start until December 7, 2026. The pending preemption ruling under PTO 30 could materially reshape the case inventory. Causation evidence continues to develop (new studies in 2024-2025 reinforce the meningioma link, but defense experts will challenge specifics at Daubert). Numbers will firm up only after bellwether verdicts and any settlement framework. We update this page when material developments occur.