Judge Rodgers has issued Pretrial Order No. 4 to establish guidelines for managing all lawsuits related to Depo-Provera. This order ensures consistency in case handling and promotes an efficient legal process.

To streamline proceedings, the court has implemented a master docket—a centralized system for filing legal documents. Any filing that applies to all cases will be designated accordingly, while filings specific to individual cases must be submitted both in the master docket and the case-specific docket.

Additionally, the order modifies the requirements for out-of-state attorneys representing plaintiffs. Since this litigation is national in scope, many attorneys are not licensed in Florida. Typically, they would need to submit a Certificate of Good Standing from their state bar association. However, Judge Rodgers has waived this requirement, which is a standard practice in multi-district litigation (MDL). Furthermore, attorneys who have already paid a pro hac vice fee—allowing them to practice in another district—are not required to pay the fee again in Florida if they have previously paid it for a Depo-Provera case elsewhere.

Attorneys intending to officially represent plaintiffs must file a Notice of Appearance for each case they handle. Lawyers already admitted to the Northern District of Florida do not need special permission but must still notify the court of their involvement.

Regarding the service of legal documents (the official process of informing defendants about a lawsuit), the court mandates adherence to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure unless both parties agree on an alternative method.

With thousands of Depo-Provera-related lawsuits anticipated, this order plays a crucial role in maintaining organization and efficiency. Plaintiffs’ attorneys are highly engaged in this litigation, and this development marks a significant step forward.