Feb. 7, 2025: The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has consolidated over 70 lawsuits alleging that Depo-Provera, a hormonal contraceptive drug, increases the risk of intracranial meningiomas (brain tumors). The cases have been transferred to the Northern District of Florida under Judge M. Casey Rodgers, who previously handled the large-scale 3M earplug litigation.
The lawsuits claim that Pfizer Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, failed to properly warn patients and doctors about the potential risks associated with Depo-Provera and its generic version. The panel rejected an attempt by Prasco Laboratories, a generics manufacturer, to avoid being named as a defendant in cases where the alleged usage occurred before its authorization to produce the generic in November 2020.
Pfizer and Prasco initially sought consolidation in New York, while most plaintiffs preferred California. The final decision to centralize in Florida was based on its judicial resources and neutrality. Pfizer maintains that the claims are without merit and asserts that Depo-Provera remains a safe and effective treatment.
Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive also used to treat endometriosis, has been reportedly linked in medical studies to the development of meningiomas, a condition the plaintiffs argue Pfizer failed to disclose adequately.
The litigation will now proceed under MDL No. 3140, where plaintiffs will continue to seek accountability for alleged failures in warning about the drug’s risks.
Implications for Affected Individuals:
Women who have used Depo-Provera and subsequently developed meningioma may be eligible to file individual lawsuits or join class-action suits seeking compensation for their injuries.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf attorneys have a long history of fighting for women’s rights. The Legal Intelligencer named the firm’s partners in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, and women’s and children’s rights. The firm has been at the forefront of some of the most important women’s rights cases.
- Sauder Schelkopf filed the first nationwide class action lawsuit to protect individuals from the increased risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), associated with Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently requested that Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders. Allergan agreed and is removing these products from the global market. Our firm was court-appointed to serve on the steering committee.
- Sauder Schelkopf, and co-counsel, reached a $215 million settlement on behalf of female patients of Dr. George Tyndall, a gynecologist at the University of Southern California accused of sexual misconduct since the 1990s. The settlement also included significant policy changes to prevent future sexual misconduct.
- Sauder Schelkopf represented women who suffered a catastrophic loss of fertilized eggs and embryos when the Pacific Fertility Center’s storage tank malfunctioned at its San Francisco fertility clinic.
- Sauder Schelkopf represented women in a lawsuit against Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. related to the manufacture and sale of its fertility drug, Bravelle. It was alleged that over 18 months, Ferring knew or had reason to know that Bravelle was sub-potent and could not deliver on its promised benefits.
- Sauder Schlekopf represented women who were implanted with Essure, a female birth control device. It is alleged that the devices migrated and fractured, punctured internal organs, or caused other injuries.
- Sauder Schelkopf represented women who alleged they were subjected to sexual misconduct by a gynecologist at a hospital located in Pasadena, California.
We Want to Hear from You
If you used Depo-Provera and subsequently developed meningiomas, contact the lawyers at Sauder Schelkopf by filling out the form on this page.