Discover crucial February 2025 updates on six high-profile ongoing nationwide mass torts. Recent developments include those in the Uber sexual assault lawsuits, Pfizer’s Depo Provera, and the Roundup, Paraquat, and AFFF firefighter foam litigation.
In many of these mass torts, we continue to see lawsuits filed into February 2025 and beyond, with new evidence and scientific studies continuing to surface. Read on for the latest news and updates and what they mean for plaintiffs.
Uber Sexual Assault 2025 - Latest News and Updates
Sexual assault lawsuits against Uber continue to increase into 2025, with 1,562 MDL lawsuits active as of February. In addition to the MDL, 513 Uber sexual assault lawsuits are pending in California state courts, bringing the number of pending lawsuits against Uber to over 2000.
Early 2025 also saw the filing of new lawsuits, including one from a Louisiana individual alleging Uber’s negligence in handling their sexual assault complaint. The plaintiff accused the company of failing to screen drivers adequately, posing an unreasonable risk to women passengers.
Uber MDL Update
Recent developments in the Uber sexual assault MDL include a late December 2024 push by plaintiff attorneys to obtain Uber’s marketing materials for discovery, which the company has yet to provide. These documents are vital evidence for claims related to rider safety and driver background checks.
As of February 2025, the preparations for bellwether trials are in full swing. By February 14, 2025, parties must make their bellwether trial selection of ten cases from a discovery pool of 20 potential sexual assault cases. Plaintiffs must file amended complaints by March 14, 2025, with discovery closing in September. The bellwether trial is set to begin on December 8, 2025.
Uber to Produce Safety Data
Plaintiff lawyers recently submitted a letter to the court outlining the production of U.S. Safety Report data. Uber must now provide a comprehensive dataset, including files related to up to 375 safety incidents and reports of sexual assaults.
Lyft Is Also Being Sued
Uber isn’t the only rideshare company in hot water for alleged sexual assaults of passengers. In early 2025, a Colorado lawmaker filed a lawsuit against the rideshare company Lyft, alleging she suffered a sexual assault by a Lyft driver.
Depo Provera Lawsuit 2025 - Latest News and Updates
By early February 2025, 22 lawsuits had been filed against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Depo Provera. Many more lawsuits are expected throughout 2025.
A hearing before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) took place on January 30, 2025, in Miami. The outcome is expected to confirm the creation of multidistrict litigation (MDL). Lawyers are still investigating cases of individuals diagnosed with meningiomas after using Depo Provera, and plaintiffs can still join the MDL.
The first bellwether trials for Depo Provera are expected to start in mid-2025. The bellwether trials will give an indication of how juries might respond to evidence linking the birth control shot to brain tumors. Successful outcomes for plaintiffs in these trials could lead to substantial settlements or verdicts in the future.
Pfizer Supports MDL
Depo Provera manufacturer Pfizer supports the formation of an MDL to manage the Depo Provera lawsuits. However, the company requested the MDL be located in New York, while plaintiffs insist on California.
California recognizes the concept of innovator liability, allowing harmed plaintiffs to bring a lawsuit against Pfizer even if they suffered harm from using generic versions of Depo-Provera. The Joint Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is expected to decide on the location of the MDL by February 2025.
New Medical Study Links Depo Provera to Brain Tumors
Findings outlined in a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) late in 2024 support the recent Depo Provera lawsuits. Researchers established that women injected with Depo-Provera over a period of a year or more had a 5.6-times higher risk of developing intracranial meningiomas, rare types of brain tumors.
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit 2025 - Latest News and Updates
As of February 2025, 9,863 hair relaxer lawsuits have been filed against L’Oreal over alleged harm caused by their products. The cases are consolidated under a multidistrict litigation (MDL) overseen by Judge Mary M. Rowland. Despite the defendants’ motion to dismiss, the judge allowed claims of failure to warn, negligence, and strict liability to proceed.
Plaintiffs who filed by February 1, 2024, must submit detailed fact sheets by February 28, 2025. The oral discovery deadline is September 30, 2025.
A new study in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology found links between hair relaxers and cancers like breast and ovarian cancer. Harmful chemicals identified in the study can enter the body through the scalp and act as hormone disruptors, potentially increasing cancer risk. These new findings provide plaintiffs with stronger evidence to support their claims in upcoming litigation.
Formaldehyde Ban on Hold
The proposed ban on formaldehyde in hair relaxers is currently on hold after a Trump executive order paused all federal regulations. As of February 2025, only three states (Maryland, California, and Washington) have banned formaldehyde from hair products.
Defendants Want to Change the Bellwether Process
The plaintiffs’ plan is to select 16 cases by February 2025 and hold the first bellwether trial in September 2025. However, the defendants have submitted a more complex plan for selecting bellwether cases. They also suggest postponing the first trial to 2026. The MDL judge must now decide which plan to accept or whether to suggest an alternative schedule.
Revlon Discovery Issues
Currently, Revlon, also a named defendant in some hair relaxer lawsuits, is facing discovery issues. The manufacturer is expected to provide updated answers to a list of unclear product names provided by plaintiffs by February 18, 2025.
Since Revlon is in bankruptcy proceedings, it may be challenging for plaintiffs to recover damages.
Roundup Lawsuit 2025 - Latest News and Updates
As of February 3, 2025, 4414 lawsuits are now pending in the Roundup MDL. Altogether, approximately 170,000 lawsuits had been filed against Bayer over Roundup, with around 100,000 cases settling for a total of $11 billion. New lawsuits are expected to emerge during 2025.
Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, has recently appealed a $175 million jury verdict awarded to Ernest Caranci, who alleged Roundup caused his cancer. The appeal, filed in the Pennsylvania Superior Court, challenges the jury’s decision, citing court misconduct and a lack of scientific basis. The outcome of this appeal is pending, with a decision expected later in 2025.
New Studies Linking Roundup Exposure to Adverse Health Effects
A study published in December 2024 by researchers at Arizona State University suggests a link between glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. These findings could result in more lawsuits against Bayer as evidence is mounting on the potential health risks of Roundup.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) in January 2025 documents the adverse health effects of Roundup exposure on unborn children. Researchers observed that increased exposure to Roundup resulted in low birth weight and other health issues.
The study maintains that current regulations are not stringent enough, and the use of Roundup is not monitored adequately to protect rural populations from adverse health effects.
Paraquat Lawsuit 2025 - Latest News and Updates
As of February 3, 2025, the Paraquat MDL now includes 5,838 pending lawsuits, including one filed by a Wisconsin man in January 2025. He alleged that exposure to Paraquat caused his Parkinson’s disease. The plaintiff worked as an agronomist from 1980 to 1985, where he says his exposure to Paraquat occurred. An additional MDL Paraquat lawsuit was filed in Florida at the end of January 2025 by a Florida man who also claims Paraquat exposure caused his Parkinson’s disease. He has been regularly exposed to Paraquat while maintaining a property for over six years.
MDL Status Conference
On January 31, 2025, a status conference was held in St. Louis. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and the defense provided updates on state court cases, and discussed the schedule for the initial phase of trial preparation. The judge encouraged plaintiff attorneys to maintain frequent communication with their clients. The MDL status conference is set for April 2025.
MDL Case Dismissals
Additionally, 57 cases face dismissal from the Paraquat MDL due to plaintiffs failing to submit the necessary questionnaires. The first Paraquat bellwether trial, initially set for early 2025, is now expected in late 2025. The delay occurred due to four case dismissals for insufficient expert testimony.
Other New Developments in the Paraquat Litigation
In other developments, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation released preliminary reports in December 2024, identifying associations between Paraquat exposure and birth defects and thyroid impacts. Another recent study in the National Library of Medicine found a link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.
AFFF Firefighter Foam Lawsuit 2025 - Latest News and Updates
Active lawsuits against AFFF manufacturers have grown to 8,092 in February 2025, with new lawsuits filed in New York, Arizona, Ohio, and other states. Bellwether trials are expected to begin in October 2025, with the potential for a global settlement in due course.
A December 2024 study from the University at Buffalo revealed that PFAS chemicals found in AFFF impact important brain health genes. This neurotoxic effect is evident regardless of a person’s exposure level to the toxic substance, meaning even exposure to small amounts of PFAS can cause detrimental health effects.
Additionally, the U.S. Government filed a motion to be dismissed as a defendant in the AFFF MDL, with a hearing scheduled for February 7, 2025. Plaintiffs and their legal counsel are closely watching the MDL developments and preparing for potential settlements or trial outcomes.
PFAS Ban in Limbo
The Trump administration withdrew a proposed ban on PFAS in drinking water in late January 2025. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wanted to limit PFAS in drinking water and industrial wastewater to protect public health from the harmful forever chemicals.
Overturning the PFAS ban could increase plaintiffs burden of proof to demonstrate that the PFAS in AFFF caused their diseases and health problems. It may also be challenging for plaintiffs to argue that PFAS manufacturers violated safety standards.
Future Mass Tort Developments
The outcomes of these six mass tort cases will significantly impact those injured and their families, as they could lead to substantial settlements. The scheduled bellwether trials and new, emerging scientific studies will be vital to resolving this high-profile litigation.
In addition, the outcomes of these claims are crucial not only for those directly involved but may also set new precedents in mass tort litigation. We will continue to monitor any developments into 2025 and provide you with more updates in due course.
