Depo Provera Lawsuit Deadline: November 30, 2026, Who It Covers and What to Gather
The Depo Provera lawsuit deadline everyone is talking about is November 30, 2026. That is the last day for eligible women to register for Pfizer’s settlement program in the federal case over meningioma, a usually benign brain tumor. But it is not a deadline for everyone: it applies mainly to women who already have a case and a lawyer. If you got the shot for years and were later diagnosed, here is exactly where you stand.
This is not legal advice. It is a plain-English guide to what the court orders actually say, checked against the documents themselves on October 26, 2026. For your own case, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
- Quick answer
- What is the Depo-Provera lawsuit about?
- Depo-Provera lawsuit timeline: the dates that matter
- Who the November 30 deadline applies to (and who it doesn’t)
- If you sign with a lawyer now: what CMO 14 requires
- How much money can you get from the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- Records to gather before you call a lawyer
- What the science says about Depo-Provera and meningioma
- Depo-Provera side effects the label lists
- If you still get the shot: questions for your doctor
- How to spot a Depo-Provera lawsuit scam
- When to see a doctor
- Frequently asked questions
- Is there a deadline for the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- What is the current status of the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- Is the Depo lawsuit still going on?
- Will there be a lawsuit against Depo-Provera in 2026?
- How much money can I expect to receive in a Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- How long will the Depo-Provera lawsuit last?
- How do you know if you qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- How many people are suing Depo-Provera?
- Is it too late to join the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
- Did the FDA add a meningioma warning to Depo-Provera?
- Does Depo-Provera cause meningioma?
- Do I need a lawyer to register for the settlement?
- Are Depo-SubQ Provera 104 and generic shots included?
- Sources
Quick answer
- The date: November 30, 2026 is the settlement registration deadline set out in Case Management Order 14 (CMO 14), entered August 10, 2026.
- Who it applies to: women with cases in the federal litigation (MDL 3140) or the New York litigation who are eligible for the settlement. Registration is done through their attorneys.
- The quieter cutoff: the no-fee “administrative docket” for settlement claims is open only to women who signed with a lawyer on or before June 11, 2026.
- Money: the terms are confidential. No per-person amount has been published, and payments are expected to start by early 2027.
- Health: don’t stop any birth control without a plan from your doctor. The FDA added a meningioma warning in December 2025.
What is the Depo-Provera lawsuit about?
Depo-Provera is the birth control shot, an injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate (a synthetic progestin) given every three months. The lawsuits claim that long-term use raises the risk of meningioma, a tumor that grows from the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and that Pfizer didn’t warn users in time. Most meningiomas are not cancer and grow slowly, but they can press on the brain or nerves and often need surgery or radiation.
Federal cases are combined in In re: Depo-Provera Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3140, before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation created it on February 7, 2025. As of October 1, 2026, the panel’s report listed 6,412 cases pending, out of 6,524 filed over the life of the MDL. Thousands more claims sit in state courts: the court’s July 2026 order counted 410 cases in Delaware, 129 in New York, 118 in California and 72 cases with 6,899 plaintiffs in Minnesota.
Depo-Provera lawsuit timeline: the dates that matter
Most pages give you one date. These are the ones that decide where a given woman stands, all taken from the court record, the FDA and the two main studies.
| Date | What happened | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2024 | The BMJ publishes the French study linking injectable medroxyprogesterone to meningioma. | CMO 14 uses this date: new plaintiffs diagnosed before it must explain why their claim isn’t too late. |
| February 5, 2024 to December 12, 2025 | Pfizer asks the FDA to add a meningioma warning; the FDA approves it on December 12, 2025. | The label now tells doctors to watch for symptoms and stop the shot if a meningioma is found. |
| February 7, 2025 | The federal cases are combined into MDL 3140 in Florida. | Federal cases filed anywhere in the U.S. are sent here. |
| June 11, 2026 | Cutoff date for signing with a lawyer to use the no-fee settlement docket. | Signed later? Your case is treated as newly filed, with stricter rules. |
| June 15, 2026 | Plaintiffs’ leaders announce a settlement of most claims. | The December 2026 trial was canceled. |
| Late July 2026 | The Master Settlement Agreement is signed. | Its eligibility rules are confidential. |
| August 5 and 10, 2026 | CMO 13 names BrownGreer settlement administrator; CMO 14 sets the rules for cases that keep litigating. | BrownGreer reviews records and decides eligibility. |
| November 30, 2026 | Deadline to register for the settlement program. | After this, ineligible and non-participating cases are reported to the court. |
| First quarter of 2027 | Payments expected to begin, according to the parties. | Timing depends on review of each claim. |
Who the November 30 deadline applies to (and who it doesn’t)
Read CMO 14 closely and the deadline turns out to be narrower than the ads suggest. The court “understands that the deadline for claimants to register to participate in the Settlement Program is November 30, 2026.” The settlement is offered to women with cases pending in the MDL, plus the New York litigation. It is not a class action, so there is no public claim form you fill out yourself.
| Your situation | What applies to you | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| You have a case in MDL 3140 and your lawyer says you’re eligible | Register through your lawyer by November 30, 2026. | Ask your lawyer to confirm in writing that registration was submitted. |
| You signed with a lawyer on or before June 11, 2026 but hadn’t filed | You may file on the no-fee administrative docket, only to join the settlement. | Ask whether your complaint has been filed and on which docket. |
| You signed with a lawyer after June 11, 2026 | You can’t use the no-fee docket. A federal case is a “Future Filed” case under CMO 14. | Ask about your state’s statute of limitations and the CMO 14 obligations below. |
| Your case was filed too late under the settlement rules | You are a “Limitations Plaintiff” and can’t join the settlement. | Ask your lawyer whether the case can continue in court. |
| Too much time passed between your last shot and your diagnosis | You are a “Latency Plaintiff” and can’t join the settlement. | Same: ask about continuing in court. |
| You’re eligible but don’t want the settlement | You become a “Non-Settling Plaintiff” and keep litigating. | Expect the strict deadlines in CMO 14. |
| Your case is in a state court outside New York | The federal settlement may not cover it; state cases move separately. | Ask your lawyer which court and which agreement apply. |
One more detail most summaries skip: the exact time limit for latency, the cutoff dates for filing and the full eligibility criteria are written only in the confidential settlement agreement. Anyone who promises you qualify before reviewing your injection and imaging records is guessing.
If you sign with a lawyer now: what CMO 14 requires
CMO 14 is called the “Case Management Order for Ongoing Litigation,” and it is deliberately demanding. It applies to women who keep litigating: non-settling, ineligible (other than limitations and latency cases) and newly filed plaintiffs. All federal proceedings outside its requirements are on hold.
| Requirement | Deadline in CMO 14 |
|---|---|
| Send preservation letters by certified mail to every doctor and provider who treated you or prescribed the shot (and employers and tax preparers if you claim lost wages) | Within 60 days of filing (or of becoming ineligible or non-settling) |
| Statute of limitations certification, if your meningioma was diagnosed before March 27, 2024 | Within 30 days of filing |
| Expert report from a qualified expert saying the shot caused your meningioma and ruling out other causes, plus a damages report and your complete medical records | Within 90 days of filing |
| Fix any deficiency the administrator flags | 30 days; otherwise the case can be dismissed with prejudice |
| Mandatory mediation with Magistrate Judge Hope Cannon | Starts within 90 days after your reports are in, lasts at least 90 days |
| In-person status conference with the judge in Pensacola, Florida | Skipping it without excuse means dismissal with prejudice |
That’s why good lawyers are asking for records up front right now. Expert reports cost money and the clock starts the day the case is filed.
How much money can you get from the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
There is no published number, and that’s by design. The court’s July 2026 order calls the settlement “a private agreement governed by a confidentiality agreement,” and because MDL 3140 is not a class action, there is no court fairness hearing where amounts would be made public. Judge Rodgers, who has seen the terms, wrote that it “offers an excellent outcome to thousands of eligible litigants.”
What we can say from the record: the court appointed a qualified settlement fund administrator, a supplemental compensation fund allocation master and a lien resolution master on September 4, 2026. In plain terms, money will be held in a fund, some of it can be allocated on top of base awards, and claims by health plans that paid for your treatment are resolved before you’re paid. Your lawyer’s fee and case expenses also come out of any award, so ask for an estimate of all deductions in writing.
Records to gather before you call a lawyer
Whether you’re checking your eligibility or already have a case, the same paper trail decides it: proof that you received the shot, when, and proof of the diagnosis. Start now, because providers are allowed up to 30 days to answer.
| Record | Where to get it | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Injection history with dates (and product name or NDC if listed) | Your OB-GYN, clinic, Planned Parenthood or health department | Use and length of use |
| Pharmacy dispensing history | Your pharmacy’s records department or app (ask for manufacturer and lot) | Which product you got: brand, Depo-SubQ or generic |
| MRI or CT reports showing the meningioma, with dates | Radiology department or patient portal | Diagnosis and timing |
| Pathology report (if you had surgery) | Hospital where you had surgery | Tumor type |
| Neurology, neurosurgery or oncology notes | Each specialist’s office | Treatment, symptoms and damages |
| Insurance explanation-of-benefits statements | Your insurer’s member portal | Backup proof of injections and treatment dates |
Under HIPAA, you have a right to copies of your own records. The provider must act within 30 calendar days and can take one extension of up to 30 more days only if it tells you in writing why. For copies you request for yourself, it can charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee for copying, supplies and postage, not for searching or retrieving the records. Asking a provider to send records straight to a law firm can follow different fee rules, so many women request their own copy first and keep it.
Keep a simple log: what you asked for, who you asked, the date, and when it arrived. It speeds things up if anything goes missing.
What the science says about Depo-Provera and meningioma
Two large studies drive both the litigation and the label change. Both found a link with long-term use. Neither can prove the shot caused any one person’s tumor, and the absolute risk stays low.
| Study | Who was studied | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Roland et al., The BMJ, March 2024 (France) | 18,061 women who had surgery for meningioma, compared with 90,305 women without | Injectable medroxyprogesterone: odds about 5.55 times higher (95% CI 2.27 to 13.56), driven by use of a year or more. Only 9 of the cases had used it. Hormonal IUDs showed no excess risk. |
| Xiao et al., JAMA Neurology, September 2025 (U.S.) | A U.S. health-record database; 88,667 shot users matched with controls | Relative risk 2.43 (1.77 to 3.33), confined to more than 4 years of use or starting after age 31. One extra diagnosis for every 1,152 users. |
What that means in real life: the risk rises with years of use, it remains uncommon, and the hormonal IUD, pill, mini-pill and implant showed no increase in the U.S. study. The FDA label now says meningiomas “have been reported following repeated administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate, primarily with long term use.” It also keeps an older boxed warning: the shot is not recommended for more than two years unless other methods are inadequate, because of bone loss.
Depo-Provera side effects the label lists
The lawsuit is about meningioma, but most women weighing the shot care just as much about its everyday effects. These come from the FDA-approved prescribing information.
| Effect | What the label reports |
|---|---|
| Periods | Irregular bleeding is common at first; 55% of women had no period by month 12 and 68% by month 24. |
| Weight | Average gain of 5.4 lb after 1 year, 8.1 lb after 2 years and 16.5 lb after 6 years. |
| Bones | Significant loss of bone density, only partly recovered after stopping; not recommended for more than 2 years unless other methods are inadequate. |
| Fertility after stopping | Delayed: median time to conception is 10 months after the last shot (range 4 to 31 months). |
| Other common effects | Headache 17%, abdominal pain 11%, nervousness 11%, dizziness 6%, lower libido 6%. |
| Meningioma (added December 2025) | Reported after repeated use, mainly long term. |
How reliable is it? The CDC puts the shot’s typical-use failure rate at 4%, meaning about 4 in 100 users get pregnant in a year, mostly because injections run late. If you’ve been diagnosed with a meningioma, a small October 2026 case series in BMJ Neurology Open found that the soft-tissue part of the tumor shrank after three long-term users stopped the shot, though bone involvement didn’t, and two still needed surgery. Stopping is a decision for you and your neurosurgeon.
If you still get the shot: questions for your doctor
Don’t skip your next injection without a backup plan: the shot is given every 13 weeks, and if you’re late you may not be protected from pregnancy. Bring these questions to your next visit:
- How many years have I been on it, and does that change what you recommend?
- Given my age and history, is a hormonal IUD, implant or another method a better fit now?
- Which symptoms should make me call you?
- If I switch, when should the new method start so I’m covered?
- Should my injection history be added to my chart in case I need it later?
If you have irregular bleeding or no periods while on the shot, that’s a known effect of the drug, not a sign of a tumor; here’s what counts as a normal late period.
How to spot a Depo-Provera lawsuit scam
Mass-tort deadlines attract aggressive advertising. Be careful with anyone who:
- Promises a dollar amount. The settlement terms are confidential, so no one can honestly quote one.
- Asks for money up front to “register” you. Personal-injury lawyers normally work on contingency.
- Pushes you to sign today without looking at your records.
- Can’t tell you which state bar licenses them. You can check on your state bar’s website.
- Asks for your Social Security number or full medical history over text or a web form before you’ve even spoken.
Questions to ask before you sign: What percentage do you take, and is it calculated before or after expenses? Who pays for the expert report if I end up litigating? Has my complaint been filed, in which court, and when? Will you confirm in writing that I’m registered for the settlement before November 30? What happens to my case if the administrator finds me ineligible?
When to see a doctor
Meningioma symptoms build slowly and overlap with many common problems, so they aren’t a reason to panic, but they are a reason to book a visit. Make an appointment if you have:
- Headaches that are new, change over time or are worse in the morning.
- Blurred or double vision, hearing loss or ringing in one ear, or loss of smell.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness on one side of the face or body.
- Memory problems, confusion, trouble finding words or personality changes.
Get emergency care for a sudden seizure, the worst headache of your life, sudden changes in vision, speech or memory, or new weakness or numbness in an arm or leg. Seizures and sudden symptoms are emergencies whether or not you ever had the shot.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a deadline for the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
Yes. Case Management Order 14 sets November 30, 2026 as the deadline for eligible claimants to register for the Pfizer settlement program in MDL 3140. It is a registration deadline handled through your attorney, not a cutoff for filing a new lawsuit, which depends on your state’s statute of limitations.
What is the current status of the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
Most cases are settling. Plaintiffs’ leaders announced a settlement on June 15, 2026, the agreement was signed in late July, and BrownGreer is reviewing claims. Eligible women must register by November 30, 2026. Pfizer admits no fault, the December 2026 trial was canceled, and other federal proceedings are paused except for cases that keep litigating.
Is the Depo lawsuit still going on?
Yes. The settlement doesn’t close MDL 3140. Women who are ineligible, opt out or file new cases keep litigating under Case Management Order 14, which requires preservation letters within 60 days and expert reports within 90 days. State-court cases in Delaware, California, Minnesota and elsewhere are also moving separately.
Will there be a lawsuit against Depo-Provera in 2026?
There already is one. Thousands of meningioma lawsuits were filed in 2025 and 2026, and new federal cases can still be filed in 2026 if your state’s statute of limitations allows it. New cases filed now can’t use the no-fee settlement docket and must meet strict requirements in Case Management Order 14.
How much money can I expect to receive in a Depo-Provera lawsuit?
Nobody outside the settlement can tell you. The court says the agreement is private and confidential, and no individual or total amounts have been published. Payments are expected to begin by the first quarter of 2027. Treat any ad quoting a specific payout as marketing, not a figure confirmed by the court.
How long will the Depo-Provera lawsuit last?
For women in the settlement, the parties expect registration to finish in November 2026 and payments to begin by the first quarter of 2027. Women who keep litigating face a longer path: expert reports, at least 90 days of mediation, an in-person status conference and, if mediation fails, roughly 180 days of case-specific discovery.
How do you know if you qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit?
You need records showing you received Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104 or an authorized generic, and imaging or pathology showing a meningioma. Settlement eligibility also depends on confidential rules about when you filed and the time between your last shot and diagnosis. A lawyer and the administrator, BrownGreer, make that call.
How many people are suing Depo-Provera?
As of October 1, 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 6,412 pending cases in MDL 3140, out of 6,524 filed in total. State courts hold thousands more, including about 6,899 plaintiffs in Minnesota and 410 cases in Delaware, according to the court’s July 2026 order.
Is it too late to join the Depo-Provera lawsuit?
Not necessarily, but the window has narrowed. The no-fee settlement docket is limited to women who signed with a lawyer by June 11, 2026. If you sign now, your case is generally treated as a newly filed case, with strict court requirements, and your state’s statute of limitations still applies. Ask a licensed attorney quickly.
Did the FDA add a meningioma warning to Depo-Provera?
Yes. On December 12, 2025, the FDA approved a new warning for Depo-Provera CI and Depo-SubQ Provera 104 saying meningiomas have been reported after repeated use, mainly long term. Doctors are told to watch for symptoms and stop the drug if a meningioma is diagnosed. Pfizer first asked for the change in February 2024.
Does Depo-Provera cause meningioma?
Studies show a link, not proof of cause. A 2024 French study in The BMJ found about 5.5 times higher odds with injectable medroxyprogesterone used a year or more. A 2025 U.S. study found 2.43 times the risk, mostly after four years of use, with one extra case per 1,152 users.
Do I need a lawyer to register for the settlement?
In practice, yes. The settlement covers women with cases in MDL 3140 or the New York litigation, and registration goes through plaintiffs’ attorneys and the settlement administrator. You can check any lawyer’s license on your state bar website before signing, and you should never pay an upfront fee to register.
Are Depo-SubQ Provera 104 and generic shots included?
The MDL covers Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104 and authorized generic versions made by the Pfizer companies. Whether a shot from another generic manufacturer counts depends on the settlement terms and your pharmacy records, so ask for the manufacturer and lot information when you request your records.
This article is general information, was last updated on October 27, 2026, and is not legal or medical advice. Court deadlines can change by order. Talk with a licensed attorney about your situation and with your doctor before changing any medication.
Sources
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Florida: Case Management Order No. 14, MDL 3140 (August 10, 2026)
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Florida: Case Management Order No. 12, settlement overview (July 27, 2026)
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Florida: Case Management Order No. 13, appointment of settlement administrator (August 5, 2026)
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Florida: all MDL 3140 orders by date
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation: pending MDL dockets by actions pending (October 1, 2026)
- FDA: safety-related labeling change for medroxyprogesterone acetate, meningioma warning (December 12, 2025)
- FDA: supplement approval letter for Depo-Provera CI and Depo-SubQ Provera 104 (December 2025)
- Roland N, et al. Use of progestogens and the risk of intracranial meningioma: national case-control study. BMJ 2024;384:e078078
- Xiao T, et al. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and risk of meningioma in the US. JAMA Neurology, September 2, 2025
- Mayo Clinic: Meningioma, symptoms and causes
- HHS: Individuals’ right under HIPAA to access their health information
- HHS: how quickly a provider must respond to a records request
- FDA: Depo-Provera CI full prescribing information (revised December 2025)
- CDC: contraception and birth control methods, effectiveness
- De John B, et al. Meningioma regression following depot medroxyprogesterone acetate withdrawal: a case series. BMJ Neurology Open, October 2026
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