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Mass Tort Explained: When It Is Used

November 3, 2015 • 2 min read

Mass torts involve the civil action of numerous plaintiffs against selected or multiple corporate defendants. These civil grievances are resolved in state or federal courts.

When are mass tort lawsuits used?

Depending on the severity of the lawsuit, a mass tort lawsuit will be used in the event of:

Extreme exposure to a toxic working environment involving harmful chemicals.
Sustained injury due to inappropriate medical equipment and defective devices.
Exposure and injury sustained due to harmful and illicit drugs.

What are Mass Tort claims?

Mass tort claims or lawsuits are used in a court of law to ensure the plaintiffs aren’t treated or ruled out as a single entity but considered as mass tort plaintiffs.

In these cases, the court will decide on the necessary compensation each plaintiff will receive. The compensation will be based on the severity of their case and the damages they have succumbed to.

What is the difference between a Mass Tort and Class Action Lawsuit?

Although these two types of lawsuits may share some similarities, the proceedings are treated differently in court.

Mass Tort Lawsuit: MDL assists a large group of people who have been directly affected by an individual corporate entity. A good example of MDL is the BP Oil Spill of April 2010. This ecological crisis led to injuring dozens and killing 11 individuals.
Class Action Lawsuit: A group of individuals can file a class action lawsuit or claim. This will reduce the number of individual lawsuits or cases that will need to be filed and resolved. Court proceedings will decide on the final verdict based on substantial information gathered from the individuals who filed the lawsuit.

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