January 30, 2025
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will consider a motion to establish a Multidistrict Litigation, also known as an “MDL, for cases related to the contraceptive Depo-Provera, which has been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors, specifically meningiomas. This hearing will occur at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida. Usually, the parties seek to create an MDL when cases have been filed in various states. If the MDL is approved, these cases that have been filed in various courts are transferred to one designated Federal Court, in front of a specific Federal Judge. This is done to create a more efficient pre-trial process, where the parties can seek rulings on pre-trial issues from one judge. It is expected that an MDL will be established in the weeks after the January 30 hearing.
November 26, 2024
Attorneys for Plaintiffs filed a motion to centralize at least 22 pending lawsuits into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) aimed at consolidating cases related to the alleged risks of Depo-Provera into one jurisdiction for efficiency.
October 1, 2024
Kristina Schmidt filed the first lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. and other defendants in California federal court. Schmidt alleged that her long-term use of Depo-Provera, which began in 2005, resulted in a meningioma diagnosis in June 2022, necessitating brain surgery. The lawsuit claims that Pfizer was aware of the risks associated with the drug but failed to adequately warn users.
March 27, 2024
A significant study published in the British Medical Journal indicated that long-term use of Depo-Provera is associated with a 5.6 times higher risk of developing meningiomas compared to non-users. This study provided critical evidence supporting claims made in the lawsuits.