The Depo Shot Lawsuit is making headlines. It is a US legal suit against the pharmaceutical company Pfizer filed on behalf of women who have suffered brain tumors (meningiomas). According to their claims, the rumors are a result of their use of the company’s contraceptive injection Depo-Provera.
The class action lawsuit accuses the US pharma company of neglecting to warn both patients and doctors about the heightened risk of getting a brain meningioma due to long-term usage of a quarterly injection of Depo-Provera, reports The Guardian.
Basically, these lawsuits say Pfizer knew about the risks but didn’t warn users properly. And now, those affected want justice and money to help cover their medical bills, lost income, and pain.
In this article, we will be explaining the following things:
- What is the Depo shot lawsuit about?
- Major allegations in the lawsuit.
- Eligibility to file a case and be part of the lawsuit.
- What are the major Depo Shot lawsuit updates that you should know?
- What is the Depo shot lawsuit compensation and settlement amount?
Therefore, if these are some of the things that you want to know, keep on reading this blog till the end…
What Is The Depo Shot Lawsuit About?
The Depo shot is a birth control injection that women get every three months to avoid getting pregnant. Many used it for years, thinking it was safe.
However, recent medical studies found a scary link: long-term use of Depo-Provera may increase the chance of developing brain tumors.
So now, hundreds of women are filing lawsuits. They say:
- They weren’t told about the risks.
- Pfizer failed to warn users and doctors.
- They wouldn’t have used it if they knew it could be dangerous.
These cases are all part of the Depo Shot Lawsuit.
What Are The Major Allegations Of The Depo Lawsuit?
Here’s what the people suing Pfizer are claiming:
- The shot can cause brain tumors (especially with long-term use).
- Pfizer knew or should have known about the risk.
- Pfizer didn’t warn users in the label or tell doctors.
- Because of this, many women now suffer from serious health problems.
Who Is Eligible For The Depo Shot Lawsuit Settlement?
You might be eligible if you:
- used Depo-Provera for a long time (more than 1 year or 4+ shots).
- were diagnosed with a meningioma (a type of brain tumor).
- can show a connection between the shot and your tumor.
- are working with a lawyer who understands these kinds of cases.
If this sounds like you, you could join the lawsuit and possibly receive money as part of a settlement.
Latest Depo Shot Lawsuit Updates
The court hearing that came really close to deciding the fate of the Depo Shot lawsuit was held on September 29, 2025, at Judge M. Casey Rodgers’ court. She listened to the arguments that Pfizer made in their request for a summary judgment.
The company argued that the law that federal preemption applies. Therefore, failure-to-warn claims should be dismissed. On the other hand, the plaintiffs’ counsel stated that Pfizer had concealed critical evidence from the FDA, so there should be no preemption shield.
Judge Rodgers gave very few clues about what her final decision would be. She interrogated both sides with her pointed questions, but didn’t give any hints of what she thought.
Irrespective of whatever happened, the hearing went well, and plaintiffs’ attorneys were upbeat when they walked out of the court, thinking that the federal court is still open because the preemption argument made by Pfizer is not very strong.
As of now, there are 1225 lawsuits that have been filed in the MDL.
How Much Will The Depo Shot Lawsuit Settlement Be?
TBH, it’s still early, so there’s no exact number yet. But based on similar lawsuits and what we know so far, lawyers are starting to make some predictions.
Additionally, if the science holds up and the cases move forward, settlement amounts could be big—especially for the most serious injuries.
Depo-Provera Settlement Predictions: What Will Be The Amount?
Let’s look at possible settlement tiers based on how bad the brain tumor is.
| Injury Tier | Severity | What it means | Estimated Settlement |
| Tier 1 | High | Malignant (Grade III) tumor, surgery, permanent damage | $650,000 to $1,500,000+ |
| Tier 2 | Moderate | Symptomatic tumor needing surgery (Grade II) | $300,000 to $650,000 |
| Tier 3 | Lower | Benign tumor, small or no surgery needed | $150,000 to $300,000 |
| Tier 4 | Minimal | Tumor found during a scan but didn’t need treatment | Under $150,000 |
Note: These are just early predictions. The actual settlement could be more or less depending on how the lawsuit goes.
Big Fact: Pfizer is worth over $150 billion. They can afford to pay large settlements if the court rules against them.
Types Of Compensation In The Depo Shot Lawsuit
A successful case may help you to recuperate the following types of expenses:
- Medical expenses (MRIs, surgeries, neurological exams, and treatments).
- Lost wages if your condition hampers your ability to work.
- Pain and suffering for physical and emotional distress.
- Disability and long-term care-related expenses.
- Money to punish Pfizer for not giving a warning to users.
However, it is important to understand that each case is unique. Hence, the exact type of compensation that you will be able to receive completely depends on your case’s specificity.
Factors Influencing The Settlement Amount
Every case is different. The money you could get depends on:
- How long you used Depo-Provera: The more shots you had, the stronger your case may be.
- Size and type of your tumor: Bigger and more dangerous tumors (Grade III) usually mean more money.
- Medical expenses: If you had surgery, hospital stays, or other costly treatment, your payout could be higher.
- Lost wages: If the tumor stopped you from working, you may get compensation for your lost income.
- Pain and suffering: If the tumor affected your daily life, emotions, or relationships, you could receive more for that too.
- Whether you settle or go to trial: Settlements are faster and less risky, but court awards can sometimes be higher—if you win.
How To Get A Depo Provera Lawsuit Settlement?
Here’s what you need to do if you think you qualify:
- Talk to a lawyer: Especially one who handles drug injury lawsuits.
- Gather your records: Medical records showing your Depo shots and tumor diagnosis.
- File your case: Your lawyer will help with the legal paperwork.
- Be patient: Mass tort cases like this can take months (sometimes years) to settle or go to trial.
What Is The Deadline For The Depo Shot Lawsuit?
You may still have time to file—even if you used the Depo shot years ago. Here’s why:
Discovery Rule
Firstly, the “clock” for filing your lawsuit starts when you learn about your injury and connect it to the Depo shot. Additionally, many people didn’t realize the shot was to blame until recently. So the deadline to file might not have started yet for you.
Equitable Tolling
Secondly, this is a legal rule that pauses the deadline if the drugmaker hid important information. Pfizer is accused of:
- Hiding the risk of brain tumors.
- Not updating the label.
- Telling doctors it was safe when it might not have been.
Furthermore, because of this, lawyers are arguing that the filing deadline should be extended.
Estoppel
Finally, comes estoppel. This fancy legal word means: If Pfizer misled people, they shouldn’t be allowed to use the deadline to escape responsibility.
So even if your brain tumor happened years ago, you might still be able to file a case today.
Depo-Provera Product Liability Lawsuit: Understanding Why Pfizer Is Legally Responsible For The Settlement
Companies such as Pfizer are obligated by law to keep their products safe to some reasonable extent and to issue clear warnings regarding any known or even only reasonably foreseeable risks.
If a strict liability due to lack of warning is adopted, the producer can be held responsible even if the product is not defective in design, provided that it did not adequately inform patients and doctors about the side effects of the product.
Such a duty is the basis. Doctors and patients rely on safety data to make the right call on the benefits of a drug against its risks. If the warnings are incomplete or missing, it is simply not possible to make an informed choice. The label of a drug should inform about every risk that is already known or can be expected from reasonable diligence.
“In the case of Depo-Provera, U.S. labeling failed to disclose the risk of meningioma, despite decades of scientific literature and regulatory warnings abroad pointing to this association,” according to Lawsuit Information Center.
The lawsuits that have been filed will maintain that Pfizer knew—or at least should have known—of the high risk and that its decision not to change the label is a clear failure to warn.
If the firm had communicated the risk of meningioma, they would most probably have lost their sales.
Patients would have the right to select from a range of safer contraceptive methods, while doctors would be more prudent in prescribing Depo-Provera, especially for long-term use. Openness and transparency could have made the risk-benefit analysis completely different for countless women.
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