Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Depo-Provera Filings Mount as Social Media, Hair Relaxer, and Legacy Dockets Build Momentum

Daily mass-tort filing volume surged on 129 new complaints, with pharmaceutical and consumer technology dockets dominating the landscape. The Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3140) generated the highest volume at 24 new cases, fueled largely by Rogers Patrick Westbrook Brickman LLC's seven-filing push alongside three complaints from Douglas & London. Social Media Adolescent Addiction Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3047) sustained its momentum with 20 filings, overwhelmingly concentrated in Wright & Schulte LLC's portfolio of 17 complaints. The Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3060) added 12 cases, with Johnson Law Group contributing four actions as cosmetic safety claims continue expanding. Meanwhile, the mature Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2738) produced eight filings handled exclusively by Wagstaff Law Firm, and the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Products Liability (Gastroparesis) Litigation (MDL 3094) rounded out the top five with six cases, including paired filings from The Joel Bieber Firm. See the full filing feed and firm-level breakdowns here.

Mead Johnson Wins New Trial as Court Reverses $60 Million NEC Formula Verdict

On June 12, 2026, the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court granted Mead Johnson Nutrition a new trial, overturning a $60 million verdict against the company in the Watson v. Mead Johnson Company, LLC case, part of the NEC Baby Formula Litigation. The appellate panel concluded that the reversal was granted due to reversible errors by the trial judge, specifically regarding improper jury instructions about the duty to warn and allowing prejudicial testimony regarding Mead Johnson's corporate wealth. The ruling marks a significant development for defendants in the consolidated litigation, which encompasses thousands of claims alleging that cow's milk-based formulas increase NEC risk in premature infants. Plaintiffs' attorneys are expected to refine their expert presentations for retrial, while the decision provides a template for defense challenges to causation evidence in pending cases. The reversal also underscores the continuing volatility of bellwether outcomes in the infant formula mass tort as both sides prepare for additional trials.

Los Angeles District Attorney Warns of Fraud Schemes Targeting $4 Billion County Settlement

On June 15, 2026, during a major court hearing, Judge Lawrence Riff placed payouts from a $4 billion Los Angeles County settlement on hold until July 25, 2026. This follows a motion filed days prior by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who issued warnings alleging that a significant majority—potentially up to 81%—of the claims in the settlement may be fraudulent. The $4 billion settlement was reached in 2025 to resolve over 11,000 claims of sexual abuse in county juvenile halls, foster homes, and children’s shelters. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the reported fraud attempts, which threaten to divert resources from the legitimate compensation program and retraumatize actual survivors.