What Is the Natera Lawsuit?
The Natera lawsuit is a set of consumer class actions against Natera, Inc. over its prenatal and genetic screening tests. Natera is a genetic testing company that sells the Panorama noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT), the Vasistera test and the Horizon carrier screening test.
Two federal cases make up the consumer litigation. In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litigation, No. 4:22-cv-00985, alleges that Natera marketed its prenatal tests as more reliable than they are. Calcaterra v. Natera, Inc., No. 4:23-cv-06342, alleges that Natera did not clearly tell patients what they might owe out of pocket.
Both cases are class actions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and neither is a multidistrict litigation. Natera has settled both. Lawsuits by competitors and investors also carry Natera's name, and they appear in a comparison below.
“Defendant Natera, Inc. markets and sells NIPT tests for pregnant women that screen for various chromosomal and genetic conditions affecting a baby's health. Natera markets its NIPT tests as the most reliable non-invasive method of screening for genetic conditions.”
Source: Source: Davis v. Natera, Inc., Class Action Complaint, No. 3:22-cv-00985, Document 1, paragraph 2 (N.D. Cal. filed Feb. 17, 2022)
Why Are People Filing Natera Lawsuits?
People are filing Natera lawsuits because they say Natera's prenatal tests were less reliable than advertised and its prices were unclear. The accuracy claims trace to a January 1, 2022 New York Times analysis of noninvasive prenatal tests. According to investor notices that summarize it, the analysis concluded that positive results for certain rare microdeletion disorders were wrong about 85 percent of the time.
The first consumer complaint, filed February 17, 2022, cited that reporting. It alleged that false positives for some rare conditions ran between 85 and 98 percent. The billing claims arrived later. Patients said that Natera's advertised cost estimates did not match the bills they received for Panorama and Horizon tests.
A false positive matters because the next step can be costly and invasive. The complaint says follow-up diagnostic testing carries a risk of miscarriage and may not be available until later in pregnancy. Natera disputes the accuracy allegations, and no court has ruled on them.
What Injuries Are Included in the Natera Lawsuit?
The injuries included in the Natera lawsuit fall into three categories: false-positive results, overpayment for the tests, and unexpected bills. The first two come from the prenatal testing case. The third comes from the billing case. Each category is an allegation that no court has decided.
False-Positive Test Results
A false positive is a screening result that flags a condition when the baby does not actually have it.
The prenatal testing complaint alleges that Natera's tests produced false positives for some rare chromosomal conditions. It says patients then faced anxiety, additional diagnostic procedures and genetic counseling costs.
The complaint also alleges that some expectant parents made pregnancy decisions based on a test result that proved wrong. The allegation concerns the tests' reliability for rare conditions, and it does not challenge their performance on Down syndrome screening.
Overpayment for Allegedly Unreliable Tests
In a consumer class action, overpayment is a claim that buyers paid for a product that did not deliver what its marketing promised.
The settlement class in the prenatal testing case consists of people who paid out of pocket for a Panorama or Vasistera test. Those payments include copays, coinsurance and deductibles.
The claims are pleaded as breach of implied warranty and violations of consumer protection laws. People whose insurer or another third party paid the entire cost are outside the class.
Unexpected Medical Bills
A surprise bill is a charge that is much higher than the cost estimate a patient was given beforehand.
Calcaterra alleges that Natera failed to clearly inform patients of potential out-of-pocket costs for Panorama and Horizon tests. It pleads violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
A related complaint described by ClassAction.org makes a similar claim. It says Natera advertised that most patients would pay no more than $249, yet some received bills of thousands of dollars.
Who Qualifies for the Natera Lawsuit?
You may qualify if:
- You had a Panorama test or a Horizon carrier screening performed by Natera between July 10, 2019 and September 2, 2026
- Natera billed you more than $249 for Panorama without microdeletions, or more than $349 for Panorama with microdeletions or for Horizon
- You live in the United States and file a claim before the claim deadline
- You did not opt out of the settlement
You may not qualify if:
- A third party paid the entire cost of your test and Natera never billed you
- Your test was performed as part of a clinical trial or research study
- You are a Natera officer, employee or counsel of record, or the presiding judge or the judge's family
- You only seek payment in the prenatal testing settlement, whose claim window closed in 2026
These criteria summarize the class definition in the billing settlement notice and the settlement administrator's materials. Only the settlement administrator and the court can confirm whether a particular person is a class member, and an attorney can explain how a release or opt-out affects an individual claim.
What Is the Current Status of the Natera Class Action Lawsuits?
The current status of the Natera class action lawsuits is that both consumer cases have settled, but only one still accepts claims. The prenatal testing case has final approval, and the billing case awaits its final approval hearing on March 2, 2027.
In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litigation
Individual patients filed two putative class actions over Panorama marketing in February 2022, and the court consolidated them. The lead plaintiffs are Amanda Davis and seven other class representatives. Natera denies violating any law and says its tests are highly reliable, citing nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division |
| Case Number | 4:22-cv-00985-JST |
| Judge | Judge Jon S. Tigar |
| First Complaint | Davis v. Natera, Inc., filed February 17, 2022 |
| Class | U.S. residents who paid out of pocket for a Panorama or Vasistera test, with start dates between February 17, 2016 and February 17, 2018 depending on state, through August 7, 2025 |
| Settlement | $8,250,000 |
| Final Approval | Granted and judgment entered September 3, 2026 |
| Effective Date | October 6, 2026, if no appeal is filed |
| Claims | Closed; the claim, opt-out and objection deadline was July 24, 2026 |
Third-party settlement sites list an earlier claim deadline of March 23, 2026. The official settlement website lists July 24, 2026, and both dates have passed.
Calcaterra v. Natera, Inc.
Calcaterra covers billing for Panorama and Horizon tests. The settlement notice also releases claims in Copley v. Natera, Inc., a related case in San Mateo County Superior Court. Natera strongly disagrees with the allegations in the notice.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California |
| Case Number | 4:23-cv-06342-YGR |
| Judge | Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers |
| Related State Case | Copley v. Natera, Inc., No. 23-CIV-03095 (San Mateo County Superior Court) |
| Filed | December 8, 2023 |
| Class | U.S. residents billed above $249 or $349 for a Panorama or Horizon test between July 10, 2019 and September 2, 2026 |
| Settlement | $9,500,000 |
| Preliminary Approval | September 2, 2026 |
| Fee Motion Due | November 23, 2026 |
| Opt-Out and Objection Deadline | December 28, 2026 |
| Final Approval Hearing | March 2, 2027, 9:00 a.m. Pacific |
| Claim Deadline | May 3, 2027 |
The hearing date can change, so class members should confirm it on the settlement website.
Did Natera Settle the Prenatal Testing and Billing Lawsuits?
Yes. Natera settled both consumer class actions, agreeing to pay $8.25 million in the prenatal testing case and $9.5 million in the billing case, a combined $17.75 million.
Natera denies wrongdoing in both cases, and the court did not decide who would win. Individual payments depend on the claims filed, the proof submitted and the court's decisions on fees, so no amount is guaranteed.
The prenatal testing settlement paid up to $30 per claim with no proof of purchase, or 10 percent of documented out-of-pocket costs above $300. Class counsel's fees are 30 percent of the fund, and each of the eight class representatives may receive a $7,500 service award. The settlement website schedules payments by November 5, 2026, and an appeal would delay them.
The billing settlement splits its net fund into two groups. Members with proof of an out-of-pocket payment above the threshold share 94.7 percent pro rata, and members without proof share the remaining 5.3 percent at up to $50 each. Counsel may request up to 25 percent of the fund, and payments begin only after final approval and any appeals.
No per-person estimate has been published for either settlement. A person with no documents may still qualify for the lower payment tier in the billing case, so a claim can be worth filing even without records.
Natera Lawsuit Updates and Case Status
Here is the current status of the Natera lawsuit, updated with new filings, rulings, and case-count reports as they're confirmed. As of October 2026, the Natera consumer class actions reached a settlement, described in the timeline below. See the full timeline below for every confirmed development since the litigation began.
Natera Lawsuit Timeline
Calcaterra Settlement Notices Begin
Settlement notices in Calcaterra v. Natera, Inc. began going out on or after October 2, 2026, according to ClassAction.org. The $9.5 million billing settlement is still awaiting final approval.
Judge Tigar Grants Final Approval of the $8.25 Million Prenatal Settlement
Judge Jon S. Tigar granted final approval and entered judgment in In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litigation on September 3, 2026. The settlement website lists October 6, 2026 as the effective date if no appeal is filed.
Court Grants Preliminary Approval of the $9.5 Million Billing Settlement
The court preliminarily approved the $9.5 million settlement in Calcaterra v. Natera, Inc. on September 2, 2026. The final approval hearing is set for March 2, 2027, and the claim deadline is May 3, 2027.
Final Approval Hearing Held in the Prenatal Testing Case
The settlement website lists August 20, 2026 as the date of the virtual final approval hearing in In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litigation. Final approval followed two weeks later.
Claim, Opt-Out and Objection Deadline Passes in the Prenatal Case
The deadline to submit a claim, opt out or object in the $8.25 million prenatal testing settlement was July 24, 2026. The settlement administrator accepted claims submitted on or before September 3, 2026 as timely.
Final Judgment Entered in Guardant Health v. Natera
Natera's SEC filing says the Northern District of California entered final judgment in the Guardant Health false advertising case in June 2026, and that Natera is appealing to the Ninth Circuit. This is a competitor suit, separate from the consumer class actions.
Supreme Court Denies CareDx's Petition in the False Advertising Dispute
Natera's SEC filing says the U.S. Supreme Court denied CareDx's petition in June 2026. The Third Circuit had affirmed the ruling that CareDx is entitled to no damages from its 2022 false advertising verdict against Natera.
Court Preliminarily Allows Investors to Drop Securities Act Claims
In the securities class action against Natera in the Western District of Texas, a March 2026 order preliminarily granted the investors' motion to voluntarily dismiss their Section 12(a)(2) claims without prejudice. The notice to class members set a June 9, 2026 objection date.
Class Notices Go Out in the Prenatal Testing Case
Natera's SEC filing says class notices in the consolidated prenatal testing settlement were sent in January 2026. The settlement had been submitted for final approval.
Final Judgment Entered for NeoGenomics in Natera's Patent Case
The Middle District of North Carolina entered final judgment for NeoGenomics in September 2025, after an August 2025 summary judgment found Natera's asserted patent claims invalid. This patent case is unrelated to the consumer class actions.
Judge Tigar Preliminarily Approves the $8.25 Million Prenatal Settlement
Judge Jon S. Tigar found the $8.25 million settlement of In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litigation fair and reasonable, Bloomberg Law reported. The settlement class period ends August 7, 2025.
Court Largely Upholds the Guardant Jury Verdict
On July 28, 2025, the Northern District of California entered a final order on post-trial motions in Guardant Health v. Natera that largely upheld the jury's $292.5 million verdict.
Securities Class Certified Against Natera
The Western District of Texas certified a class of Natera investors on March 21, 2025, according to the class notice. The case alleges false statements about Panorama and a kidney transplant test called Prospera.
Jury Awards Guardant Health $292.5 Million Against Natera
A federal jury in the Northern District of California unanimously found for Guardant Health on its false advertising and unfair competition claims in November 2024. The award included $175.5 million in punitive damages, and the jury rejected Natera's counterclaims.
Petersen Billing Complaint Filed
A separate putative class action over Natera's billing, Petersen v. Natera, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-07062, was filed in the Northern District of California on October 8, 2024, according to the complaint's header. It names the Panorama, Horizon, Vistara and Spectrum tests.
Jury Awards Natera $96.3 Million Against CareDx on Patents
A Delaware jury found in January 2024 that CareDx infringed a Natera patent and awarded Natera $96.3 million. The court granted CareDx judgment as a matter of law in February 2025 and invalidated both asserted patents, and Natera's Federal Circuit appeal is pending.
Calcaterra v. Natera Filed Over Out-of-Pocket Costs
A patient filed Calcaterra v. Natera, Inc. in the Northern District of California on December 8, 2023. The suit alleges that Natera failed to clearly inform patients of potential out-of-pocket costs for Panorama and Horizon tests.
Investors File Securities Class Action in Texas
Natera's SEC filing says investors filed a securities class action in the Western District of Texas in April 2022. The investors amended their complaint in October 2022, and the court later denied Natera's motion to dismiss in part.
Jury Awards CareDx $44.9 Million in a False Advertising Verdict
A Delaware jury found Natera liable for false advertising and awarded CareDx $44.9 million in March 2022. The court set aside the damages in July 2023, and the Third Circuit affirmed.
Amanda Davis Files the First Prenatal Testing Class Action
Amanda Davis filed Davis v. Natera, Inc., No. 3:22-cv-00985, in the Northern District of California on February 17, 2022. The complaint alleges that Natera marketed its NIPT tests as the most reliable screening method despite high false-positive rates for rare conditions.
Campaign for Accountability Sends an SEC Complaint Letter
The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2022. The letter alleged that Natera misled investors about how often Panorama produced false positives.
New York Times Questions the Accuracy of Prenatal Screening Tests
The New York Times published an analysis on January 1, 2022 that questioned the accuracy of noninvasive prenatal tests, including Natera's Panorama. It reported that positive results for certain rare microdeletion disorders were wrong most of the time.
How to File a Natera Lawsuit
To file a Natera lawsuit, start with the 6 steps below.
- Confirm your test and your bill: The open billing settlement covers Panorama and Horizon tests performed within the class period, billed above the thresholds listed in the eligibility section above.
- Gather your bills and payment records: Natera invoices, insurance explanation of benefits statements and proof of payment show what you were billed and what you paid.
- Find your notice and settlement website: The notice names the settlement website, geneticscreeningtestsettlement.com, where the claim form and the long-form notice are posted.
- Submit your claim by May 3, 2027: A claim form submitted online, or a paper form received by the settlement administrator by May 3, 2027, is the only way to receive a payment.
- Decide whether to opt out or object by December 28, 2026: Opting out keeps your right to sue Natera on your own but removes you from the settlement, while an objection tells the court why you disagree with it.
- Consult a consumer class action attorney: A lawyer can explain how the release affects your rights, particularly if you paid a large bill or suffered harm from a prenatal result.
Answer a few questions to see if you can still file a claim. Claims deadline: May 3, 2027. Free, no obligation.
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What Evidence Do I Need for a Natera Lawsuit?
Evidence for a Natera lawsuit claim centers on records of what Natera billed you and what you paid. In the billing settlement, members who can document an out-of-pocket payment above the threshold receive a share based on the amount, while members without documents are limited to a smaller capped payment.
Useful records include the Natera invoice, the insurer's explanation of benefits and any receipt or card statement showing payment. The records should show the test name (Panorama or Horizon), the date of service and the amount you paid.
For the closed prenatal testing settlement, documentation mattered mainly for the larger payment tier, which paid 10 percent of documented costs. Medical records matter only if you consider a separate claim, which a qualified attorney would need to evaluate.
What Did Natera Allegedly Know About Panorama False Positives?
Natera allegedly knew for years that Panorama could return false positives and still promoted it as reliable. The Davis complaint says that Natera has known for years that its NIPT tests are susceptible to false positives, yet it continues to promote its NIPT test as a reliable detector of rare abnormalities.
The complaint also says Natera processes more than 400,000 NIPT tests each year, about one in ten pregnant women in the United States. Natera denies these allegations and cites nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications supporting its tests.
| Issue | What plaintiffs allege | Natera's position |
|---|---|---|
| Test reliability | NIPT results for some rare conditions are wrong 85 percent of the time or more | The tests are highly reliable and supported by multiple clinical studies |
| Marketing | Natera sold NIPT as the most reliable non-invasive screening method | Natera denies omitting any material information |
| Billing disclosure | Natera did not clearly tell patients of potential out-of-pocket costs | Patients had access to clear cost information, according to the settlement notice |
| Wrongdoing | Natera violated consumer protection laws | Natera denies violating any law and settled to avoid cost and uncertainty |
A settlement does not decide these disputes. The court said it had not determined who would win in the prenatal testing case.
Is the Natera Lawsuit the Same as Natera's Other Lawsuits?
No. The Natera lawsuit covered here is the two consumer class actions, while Natera also faces patent, advertising and securities cases that involve different parties and different tests. A person who paid for a prenatal test cannot join those cases through these settlements.
| Case | Parties | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardant Health v. Natera (N.D. Cal.) | Guardant Health, Inc. and Natera, Inc. | False advertising over the Guardant Reveal cancer test | $292.5 million verdict in November 2024; final judgment June 2026; appeal to the Ninth Circuit |
| CareDx v. Natera and Natera v. CareDx (D. Del.) | CareDx, Inc. and Natera, Inc. | False advertising and patents over transplant rejection tests | CareDx recovered no damages; Natera's patents invalidated and appeal pending |
| Natera v. NeoGenomics (M.D.N.C.) | Natera, Inc. and NeoGenomics, Inc. | Patent infringement over the RaDaR cancer test | Final judgment for NeoGenomics in September 2025 |
| Securities class action (W.D. Tex.) | Investors led by British Airways Pension Trustees and Natera | Alleged false statements about Panorama and Prospera | Class certified; fact discovery reported ongoing |
| Petersen v. Natera, No. 3:24-cv-07062 (N.D. Cal.) | Patients and Natera, Inc. | Billing for Panorama, Horizon, Vistara and Spectrum tests | Filed October 8, 2024; current status not confirmed |
| Preimplantation genetic test class action (N.D. Cal.) | Patients and Natera, Inc. | Marketing of Natera's embryo aneuploidy test | Dismissed without prejudice in August 2025 and refiled; a near-identical complaint followed in June 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Natera lawsuit about?
The Natera lawsuit is about two consumer class actions against Natera, Inc. One alleges that its Panorama and Vasistera prenatal tests were marketed as more reliable than they are. The other alleges that Natera did not clearly disclose out-of-pocket costs for Panorama and Horizon tests.
Is the Natera lawsuit a class action?
Yes. The Natera lawsuit is a pair of class actions filed in the Northern District of California, and neither is a multidistrict litigation. Natera has settled both.
Did Natera settle the lawsuit?
Yes. Natera settled the prenatal testing case for $8.25 million and the billing case for $9.5 million. Natera denies wrongdoing in both.
Can I still file a claim in the Natera class action settlement?
You can still file a claim in the Natera billing settlement until May 3, 2027 if Natera billed you above $249 or $349 for a Panorama or Horizon test. The prenatal testing settlement no longer accepts claims.
How much will I get from the Natera class action settlement?
The amount you get from the Natera class action settlement depends on which case applies and what you can document. The prenatal case paid up to $30 without proof, and the billing case pays up to $50 without proof or a pro rata share with proof.
When is the final approval hearing for the Natera billing settlement?
The final approval hearing for the Natera billing settlement is set for March 2, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific. Payments begin only after final approval and any appeals.
Is the Natera lawsuit the same as the Guardant Health verdict against Natera?
No. The Guardant Health verdict of $292.5 million is a competitor's false advertising case about a cancer test. It is separate from the consumer class actions over prenatal tests and billing.