Depo-Provera Settlement Deadline Set for Nov. 30, With Some Meningioma Claims Excluded

Thousands of women may qualify for a Depo-Provera meningioma settlement, but some claims will be excluded based on filing dates and the timing of brain tumor diagnoses.

A recently announced Depo-Provera settlement may resolve approximately 80% of federal lawsuits involving women who developed meningiomas after receiving the birth control injection, with a November 30, 2026 registration deadline approaching for eligible claimants.

Pfizer and plaintiffs’ attorneys reached the agreement in June 2026, following months of negotiations over Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits that allege the drug maker failed to adequately warn women about the potential risk of developing meningiomas, which are typically noncancerous brain tumors that can cause serious complications.

The settlement covers a substantial portion of the federal litigation, as well as certain claims pending in New York state court. However, the agreement does not resolve every case, and some women may be excluded from compensation based on when they filed their lawsuits or the timing of their brain tumor diagnosis relative to their last injection.

According to the latest multidistrict litigation statistics published by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (PDF), there were 6,412 Depo-Provera lawsuits pending in federal court as of October 1, 2026.

Based on the parties’ estimate that approximately 80% of federal plaintiffs will be eligible, roughly 5,130 of the currently pending cases could qualify for the settlement, while about 1,280 may fall outside the agreement. However, these are estimates, and the actual number of claims resolved will depend on individual eligibility reviews and whether qualifying plaintiffs agree to participate.

Depo-Provera Settlement Agreement Reached in June 2026

The federal claims are centralized before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida, as part of the Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3140), established in February 2025.

The lawsuits generally allege that women developed intracranial meningiomas after receiving Depo-Provera or related medroxyprogesterone acetate injections, and that Pfizer failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential brain tumor risks.

On June 15, 2026, attorneys announced an agreement to resolve a majority of the pending federal and New York state court claims.

The parties subsequently signed a Master Settlement Agreement in July, according to Case Management Order No. 12 (PDF), issued by Judge Rodgers on July 27.

The order confirmed that approximately 80% of federal plaintiffs were expected to qualify, although the complete eligibility requirements and compensation terms remain confidential. Pfizer has not admitted liability or wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

Who Qualifies for the Depo-Provera Settlement?

The settlement is intended to compensate eligible women who filed claims alleging they developed meningiomas after receiving Depo-Provera or other covered medroxyprogesterone acetate injections.

However, not everyone who received the injections and developed a brain tumor will necessarily qualify. An August 10 court order (PDF) identifies several groups of plaintiffs who are excluded from the agreement, including:

• Women who filed their lawsuits too late: Certain claims are excluded because of when legal action was initiated against Pfizer.
• Women whose brain tumor diagnosis falls outside the required timeframe: Some claims are excluded based on the amount of time between their last Depo-Provera injection and meningioma diagnosis.
• Women who do not meet other settlement requirements: Additional eligibility restrictions exist, but the complete criteria have not been publicly disclosed.

The court has not revealed the exact filing-date restrictions or how much time can pass between the last injection and a meningioma diagnosis before a claim becomes ineligible.

The agreement also establishes a special administrative filing process for certain individuals who retained attorneys on or before June 11, 2026, and otherwise qualify for the settlement. These individuals may submit claims through a separate court docket without initially paying a federal filing fee.

However, the June 11 cutoff applies specifically to eligibility for that administrative filing process and does not establish a universal deadline for filing a Depo-Provera lawsuit.

The deadline to register for the settlement program is November 30, 2026. Eligible claimants must complete the registration process by that date, although it is not a universal deadline for filing new Depo-Provera lawsuits.

Women who believe they qualify should contact their attorney, since the complete eligibility rules are contained in the confidential settlement agreement.

How Much Will the Depo-Provera Settlement Pay?

The total amount Pfizer has agreed to pay has not been publicly disclosed, and there is currently no confirmed average settlement payment or compensation range for individual claims.

However, several court orders provide some information about how compensation will be handled. On August 5, Judge Rodgers appointed BrownGreer PLC as the settlement administrator through Case Management Order No. 13 (PDF). BrownGreer will oversee the claims process, review supporting documentation, determine eligibility and help coordinate settlement payments.

A subsequent September 4 court order (PDF) appointed Matt Garretson of Garretson LLC to oversee a Supplemental Compensation Fund, allowing certain eligible plaintiffs to request additional compensation beyond their initial settlement awards.

Garretson will establish criteria for reviewing those requests and determine whether additional payments should be awarded and, if so, how much each qualifying claimant should receive.

However, the specific criteria and amounts available through the fund have not been publicly disclosed, and additional compensation is not guaranteed.

According to the July settlement order, payments are expected to begin during the first quarter of 2027, although the timing of individual awards will depend on the claims review process.

What Happens to Depo-Provera Lawsuits That Do Not Settle?

Although the agreement may resolve most pending federal claims, the litigation will continue for women who are excluded from the settlement or choose not to participate.

The agreement has already changed the trial schedule for the federal litigation.

The first Depo-Provera bellwether trial was originally scheduled to begin December 7, 2026. However, Judge Rodgers canceled that trial after the selected plaintiffs became eligible for the settlement.

Three replacement cases were subsequently identified to continue through the litigation process, including consideration of whether certain claims were filed within the applicable statute of limitations.

The court has also established additional evidence and documentation requirements for plaintiffs continuing outside the settlement, including records showing their use of Depo-Provera and the alleged meningioma injury.

While these cases may continue toward trial or individual resolutions, it remains unclear how many plaintiffs will ultimately be excluded from the agreement, how many eligible women will decline to participate or how many additional lawsuits may be filed.

The next federal case management conference is scheduled for December 18, 2026, when the court may address further settlement administration issues and the status of the remaining claims.

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