If you’ve heard about lawsuits involving defective medical devices, dangerous prescription drugs, or toxic chemical exposure, you’ve probably come across the term mass tort.

But what exactly is a mass tort, and how is it different from a class action lawsuit?

A mass tort is a type of civil lawsuit in which many individuals who have suffered similar injuries bring separate legal claims against the same company or group of companies. These lawsuits often involve large corporations whose products or conduct allegedly caused widespread harm.

Unlike a class action, every person in a mass tort maintains their own individual claim. That means each plaintiff’s injuries, medical history, and damages are evaluated separately, which can result in different compensation depending on the facts of each case.

What Types of Cases Become Mass Torts?

Mass tort litigation typically arises when a product or exposure affects thousands of people across the country.

Common examples include:

Dangerous Prescription Drugs

Some medications are later found to cause serious side effects that were not adequately disclosed or understood when the drugs entered the market.

Examples may include medications linked to:

• Heart complications
• Cancer
• Neurological injuries
• Birth defects
• Organ damage

Defective Medical Devices

Medical devices intended to improve patients’ lives can sometimes fail or cause unexpected complications.

Examples include:

• Hernia mesh
• Transvaginal mesh
• Hip and knee implants
• Surgical implants
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters

Toxic Exposure

Exposure to hazardous chemicals or environmental contaminants can lead to serious illnesses affecting large groups of people.

Examples include:

• PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
• Asbestos exposure
• Contaminated groundwater
• Industrial chemical exposure
• Military base contamination, including Camp Lejeune water contamination

How Does a Mass Tort Work?

Although every plaintiff has an individual lawsuit, many mass tort cases are coordinated through Multidistrict Litigation (MDL).

An MDL allows similar cases filed across the state or country to be transferred to one court for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

This process helps improve efficiency by allowing:

• Common evidence to be gathered once instead of thousands of separate times.
• Expert witnesses to testify on issues affecting all plaintiffs.
• Discovery to proceed in a coordinated manner.
• Consistent rulings on common legal issues.

Importantly, each plaintiff still maintains an individual case. Participation in an MDL does not merge everyone’s claims into a single lawsuit.

What Are Bellwether Trials?

One unique feature of many MDLs is the use of bellwether trials.

The court selects several representative cases to proceed to trial before the remaining cases.

These early trials provide valuable information about:

• How juries respond to the evidence.
• The strengths and weaknesses of the legal claims.
• Potential settlement values.
• Whether the parties may be able to reach a broader resolution.

While bellwether verdicts do not automatically determine the outcome of every case, they often influence future settlement negotiations.

Mostyn Law’s Experience in National Mass Tort Litigation

Mass tort litigation requires significant resources, experience, and the ability to manage complex cases involving thousands of plaintiffs.

Mostyn Law has represented thousands of injured clients nationwide in some of the country’s largest mass tort litigations. Our attorneys have served in leadership roles and have extensive experience handling complex product liability and pharmaceutical cases.

Our experience includes litigation involving:

• Transvaginal mesh
• 3M Combat Arms Earplugs
• Risperdal
• Hernia mesh
• Camp Lejeune water contamination
• Other complex product liability and toxic exposure matters

We understand the unique challenges of mass tort litigation and are committed to helping clients navigate every stage of the process.

Do You Think You May Have a Mass Tort Claim?

If you believe you were injured by a dangerous drug, defective medical device, or toxic chemical exposure, you may have legal options.

The attorneys at Mostyn Law can evaluate your potential claim, explain whether a mass tort or multidistrict litigation may apply, and help you understand your rights.

Contact Mostyn Law today for a free consultation to discuss your potential mass tort claim.