If you or someone you love used Depo-Provera and received a diagnosis of a meningioma brain tumor, you may be wondering: who is actually in the courtroom fighting for patients like me? The answer, in part, is Tracy Finken, and a federal judge has just confirmed that her work deserves to continue at the highest level.
On March 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers signed Pretrial Order No. 31 in the consolidated federal litigation In Re: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 3:25-md-3140 (N.D. Fla.). The order formally reappoints the plaintiffs' leadership team that will guide this multidistrict litigation (MDL) forward. Among those reappointed: Tracy Finken of Anapol Weiss, reappointed as Co-Chair of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee.
Depo-Provera Lawsuit: What Is the MDL and Why Does Leadership Matter?
When thousands of people across the country file lawsuits against the same defendant over the same product, federal courts often consolidate those cases into a single proceeding called a multidistrict litigation, or MDL. The Depo-Provera MDL (MDL No. 3140) is centralized before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, and covers claims from women who allege that using the injectable contraceptive led to the development of meningiomas, which are tumors that form in the membranes surrounding the brain.
Leadership appointments in an MDL are consequential. The attorneys who serve on leadership committees, including Lead Counsel, the Executive Committee, the Steering Committee, and various subcommittees, make the strategic, legal, and scientific decisions that shape the outcome of litigation for every plaintiff in the MDL. Pretrial Order No. 31 makes clear that Judge Rodgers found the current leadership team's work to date to be exemplary.
Similar Post: The Depo-Provera MDL: Where Things Stand
Tracy Finken's Role in the Depo-Provera MDL: What Does Executive Committee Co-Chair Mean for Plaintiffs?
Pretrial Order No. 31 reappoints Tracy Finken as Co-Chair of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee, alongside Virginia Buchanan, Chris Hellums, Buffy Martines, Troy Rafferty, Michael Sacchet, and Tara Sutton. The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day strategic direction of the litigation, which includes coordinating discovery, setting litigation priorities, managing trial strategy, and communicating with both the Court and plaintiffs' counsel nationwide.
For individual plaintiffs, having experienced leadership at the helm of an MDL matters enormously. The Executive Committee essentially serves as the steering wheel of the entire litigation. Co-Chair is not a ceremonial title. It places Tracy at the center of every major decision made on behalf of thousands of women and their families who are counting on this litigation to deliver accountability.
Tracy Finken’s Background: Why Is She Qualified to Lead One of the Largest Women's Health MDLs in the Country?
Tracy Finken is a Shareholder at Anapol Weiss and has concentrated her practice in pharmaceutical and products liability, class actions, and complex civil litigation for 24 years. Her track record in complex litigation leadership speaks for itself:
- Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel, In Re Zantac Litigation (S.D. Fla.)
- Plaintiffs' Executive Committee, In Re Tepezza Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3079)
- Plaintiffs' Executive Committee, In Re Proton Pump Inhibitor Litigation
- Plaintiffs' Science Committee Member, In Re Juul Labs, Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
Across her career, Tracy and her team have secured settlements totaling more than $750 million for clients in product liability and pharmaceutical matters. She has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer annually from 2013 through 2025, recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America in Plaintiffs' Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions from 2016 through 2025, earned a 2025 Chambers Top Ranking for Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs, and was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 in 2024 and 2025.
Depo-Provera and Brain Tumors: What Is the Alleged Link That Underlies This Litigation?
Depo-Provera is a brand name for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), an injectable hormonal contraceptive administered once every three months. For decades, it has been one of the most widely prescribed contraceptives in the United States. Recent research, however, has raised serious questions about whether long-term use of Depo-Provera is associated with an elevated risk of meningiomas, which are tumors that develop in the meninges. These are the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
While meningiomas are often described as benign, they can cause debilitating symptoms including severe headaches, vision problems, hearing loss, memory difficulties, and seizures. In some cases, they may require surgery or radiation. Plaintiffs in the MDL allege that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about this risk. Tracy Finken is currently actively investigating and filing cases for women who used Depo-Provera and subsequently developed meningiomas.
Similar Post: Warning Signs and Delayed Diagnosis: Navigating Depo-Provera Meningioma Claims
Anapol Weiss and Women's Health Litigation: How Does This Firm Approach Cases Like This?
Anapol Weiss is a nationally recognized plaintiffs' firm with deep roots in pharmaceutical and products liability litigation. The firm has dedicated an entire practice area to representing women harmed by defective drugs and medical products. From transvaginal mesh and breast mesh litigation to chemical hair straightener claims and now Depo-Provera, Anapol Weiss has consistently placed its attorneys in the leadership of the nation's most consequential mass tort proceedings affecting women.
Tracy Finken's reappointment as Executive Committee Co-Chair in the Depo-Provera MDL is consistent with the firm's broader mission: to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers accountable when they fail to adequately disclose risks to patients. With offices in Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Marlton, and Scottsdale, the firm represents clients nationally.
Depo-Provera Meningioma Lawsuit: What Should You Do If You Were Harmed?
If you used Depo-Provera and have been diagnosed with a meningioma, you may have legal options. Time is a critical factor, as statutes of limitations govern how long you have to file a claim, and those deadlines vary by state.
Anapol Weiss is currently accepting Depo-Provera cases. With Tracy Finken serving as Co-Chair of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the federal MDL, clients who retain Anapol Weiss have a direct connection to the attorneys shaping the litigation at its highest level. To learn more or to speak with a member of our legal team, contact Anapol Weiss at 215-735-1130.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Results in past cases do not guarantee similar outcomes in future matters.
