What Types of Cases are Mass Tort Lawsuits?


Mass tort litigations, often in the form of multidistrict litigations, or MDLs, are now one of the most prevalent types of lawsuits in U.S. civil courts today. They’ve become increasingly popular as more people have recognized that holding corporations accountable in court is often the only way to change the way they do business.

We often assume that laws and regulatory agencies are behind the scenes making sure we and our families and neighbors are safe. Unfortunately, as hundreds of thousands of people have discovered, many laws have been watered down behind our back to accommodate corporations, and many regulatory agencies lack funding, resources, or even authority to do something about corporations that make millions of dollars or more by selling products, skirting safety, or creating industrial waste that’s harmful to you and me.

That’s why mass tort lawsuits are so important. They hold corporations accountable when many people suffer a wide variety of injuries from their actions and deeds.

There are five main types of mass torts:

  1. Toxic exposure mass torts (also called “toxic torts”). These usually involve chemical contamination to the air, water, or land that result in death or illness.
  2. Disaster mass tort. These result from natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or wildfires. These usually involve insurance companies that refuse to compensate policy holders for their losses.
  3. Large-scale catastrophes. One of the most recent examples of this would be the condominium collapse that happened in Florida in 2021. When the condo crashed down in the middle of the night, hundreds of claimants suffered a gamut of injuries – from minor injuries on one end of the spectrum to death on the other – but because the cause was the same, the collapse could have qualified for a mass tort. (Ultimately, these cases were settled out of court.)
  4. Product liability. These are the most common types of mass tort litigations. They include litigations such as Bayer-Monsanto Roundup-related non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; 3M CAEv2 military earplugs lawsuits; and Johnson & Johnson talc-related cancer litigation. They also include faulty medical device claims and dangerous manufacturer defect cases.

Regardless of the type of mass tort litigation, these types of lawsuits are changing the way corporations do business. They’re an important and much-needed part of the U.S. justice system.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a product or device, or if you’ve been exposed to toxic substances like PFAS or been a victim of a large-scale catastrophe or a natural disaster for which an insurance company is denying your claim, we can help. Call 866-384-5060 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

It’s not just a case. It’s a cause. And together, we are making a difference.