Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

The litigation over Depo-Provera has reached a turning point. In June 2026, the federal court overseeing thousands of Depo-Provera cases confirmed that Pfizer and the plaintiffs’ leadership reached a global settlement in principle. The financial terms have not been disclosed, and the agreement is still being finalized. A settlement is not an admission of liability. In practical terms, if you received Depo-Provera injections and were later diagnosed with an intracranial or spinal meningioma (a type of brain or spinal cord tumor), the time to have your potential claim evaluated is now.

The Law Offices of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, P.C. accepts Depo-Provera cases nationwide, working with a co-counsel network of nationally recognized firms actively involved in this litigation. Consultations are free, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Meningiomas are typically identified on MRI or CT imaging — the medical records at the heart of every Depo-Provera case evaluation.

What Is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA) is a long-acting contraceptive injection, typically administered every three months. Pfizer and related companies have marketed it since the 1990s as a convenient alternative to daily birth control pills, and millions of women have received it — often for years at a time. The drug is also sold in a lower-dose version (Depo-SubQ Provera 104) and as generic medroxyprogesterone acetate.

The Science: Depo-Provera and Meningioma

A 2024 study published in The BMJ, a leading medical journal, found that women who used medroxyprogesterone acetate for a year or more faced approximately a five-fold increase in the risk of developing an intracranial meningioma — a tumor of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually non-cancerous, but they are far from harmless. Depending on their size and location, they can cause serious neurological problems, and treatment often means brain surgery or radiation.

Researchers believe prolonged exposure to high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate may stimulate the growth of certain meningiomas because many of these tumors express progesterone receptors. The lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to provide adequate warnings despite accumulating scientific evidence. For more background, see our overview of Depo-Provera and benign brain tumors.

Common Symptoms of Meningioma

Common symptoms of meningioma may include:

• Persistent headaches
• Vision changes
• Hearing changes
• Seizures
• Weakness or numbness
• Balance problems
• Memory changes

Symptoms depend on the tumor’s size and location. Many conditions can cause similar symptoms, so only a physician can determine the cause.

In December 2025, the FDA approved updated labeling for Depo-Provera that warns of the meningioma risk and advises that the drug be discontinued if a meningioma is diagnosed. For the women who received these injections in the decades before that change, no such warning appeared on the label.

The Federal Litigation: MDL 3140

In February 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the federal Depo-Provera 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 litigation grew at a remarkable pace: by the June 2026 report of the Judicial Panel, more than 5,500 cases were pending — making it one of the fastest-growing mass torts in the federal system.

In June 2026, the court confirmed that the parties had reached a global settlement in principle covering eligible plaintiffs with pending MDL cases. The terms, including any amounts and eligibility criteria, have not been made public, and the agreement does not resolve cases pending in state courts. The court reset the litigation’s key science hearing to late July 2026 while the parties work to finalize the agreement. A settlement is not an admission of liability.

Because the framework of a resolution now exists while its details remain undisclosed, women who believe they may have a claim should not wait to find out where they stand.

How We Can Help

Our firm evaluates your potential claim at no cost. As part of that evaluation, we can obtain and review the medical and pharmacy records that document your Depo-Provera use and your diagnosis. Depo-Provera cases are individual claims, not a class action — each woman’s case is evaluated, filed, and resolved on its own facts, and any recovery belongs to her. We handle these cases together with nationally recognized associated firms that are actively involved in this litigation, and our clients pay no fee unless we recover for them.

Depo-Provera claims are part of our broader dangerous prescription drugs and product liability practice. We also represent women in other product-injury litigation, including hair relaxer and talcum powder claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Depo-Provera settlement?

A global settlement in principle was announced in June 2026 for eligible plaintiffs with cases pending in the federal MDL. The financial terms have not been disclosed, the agreement is still being finalized, and it is not an admission of liability. Whether and how new claimants may participate in any resolution depends on case-specific factors — contact us promptly for a free evaluation.

Why are people filing Depo-Provera lawsuits?

The lawsuits generally allege that long-term Depo-Provera use increased the risk of developing meningiomas and that adequate warnings were not provided for many years. Pfizer denies liability, and the settlement in principle is not an admission of wrongdoing.

What injuries are involved in these cases?

The core injury is meningioma — a tumor of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can be intracranial or spinal. Meningiomas are usually benign but can require surgery or radiation and cause lasting neurological harm.

Do I still have time to bring a claim?

Deadlines depend on case-specific facts and must be determined by an attorney. With a settlement framework announced, prompt evaluation matters more than ever. Contact us right away — the consultation is free.

Do you only take New York cases?

No. Depo-Provera cases are consolidated in a single federal court, and we accept these cases nationwide together with our co-counsel network.

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. We handle Depo-Provera cases on a contingency basis: no fee unless we recover compensation for you.