Mass Tort & Product Liability Lawsuits: Active Cases Directory (2026)

A mass tort is a single legal harm that affects many people at once, such as a drug, a chemical, a defective product, or a pattern of conduct that injures large numbers of consumers. Unlike a class action, each person keeps an individual case. This page is a living directory: it explains how mass torts and multidistrict litigation work, links our in-depth guides to the major active cases, lists the other active product-liability litigations we track, and notes the ones that are winding down or closed, with dates. It is general information and attorney advertising, not legal advice, and it is not a promise that anyone has a claim. Litigation status was last reviewed in August 2026.

What a mass tort is, and how it differs from a class action

A mass tort and a class action both involve many people harmed by the same thing, but they work differently. In a class action, one or a few named plaintiffs represent everyone, the cases are decided together, and class members typically share a single outcome and a common settlement formula. In a mass tort, each injured person files and keeps an individual lawsuit, because the injuries and damages differ too much from person to person to be treated identically. That structure matters for the people involved: a mass tort can account for the severity of each person's specific injury, while a class action is better suited to large numbers of small, nearly identical harms. Many product-liability cases, such as those over drugs, medical devices, and chemicals, proceed as mass torts for this reason.

What an MDL is and how it works

When thousands of similar federal lawsuits are filed across the country, the federal courts can consolidate them into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, under the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. One federal judge then manages all the pretrial work, including evidence-gathering and key rulings, which avoids duplicative proceedings and inconsistent decisions. An MDL is not a class action; each case remains separate and, if it is not resolved, can be sent back to its home court for trial. To gauge how juries view the evidence, the parties try a small set of representative cases called bellwether trials. The results, along with rulings on the science, often shape any later settlement framework. Most of the cases below are identified by an MDL number and the court that oversees it.

The active mass torts we cover in depth

The table links our informational guide for each case, with the general nature of the claims, where the federal litigation sits, and a short status. The guides explain the science and the regulatory record, the status as of a stated date, who may be involved, and how to think about your options. They do not promise that you qualify or that any amount is owed.

Other active mass torts we track

These product-liability litigations are active as of September 2026 but do not yet have a full guide on this site. They are listed so the directory reflects the whole landscape, not only the cases we cover in depth. Each is identified by its MDL number and court so you can verify its current status through the federal courts. Inclusion here is informational and is not a statement that any person has a claim, and several of these are mature or declining rather than actively recruiting.

Prescription drugs and vaccines

Medical devices and implants

The three spinal cord stimulator dockets above are deliberately separate. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to centralize the SCS cases industry wide or to send the Abbott and Nevro cases to the judge already handling the Boston Scientific MDL, reasoning that the cases against different manufacturers will share preemption briefing but little else factually. A claim therefore belongs to the docket for the manufacturer of the device that was implanted.

Consumer and infant products

Automotive and vehicle products

Chemical and occupational exposure

Rideshare and platform safety

Tracking devices and stalking-enabled harm

This litigation is a product-liability case about the design of a consumer tracking device rather than a wiretapping or surveillance case, and it turns on what Apple knew about the risk of misuse when it released the AirTag, whether safer designs were feasible, and how it responded to reports of stalking. Separately from any civil litigation, planting a tracker on someone else's vehicle or property is itself regulated by state law; see our GPS tracking laws by state guide.

A separate, very large set of cases, the National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL 2804, N.D. Ohio), coordinates claims brought largely by state and local governments over the opioid epidemic. It is mentioned here for completeness, but it is primarily a governmental matter rather than the kind of individual personal-injury case the rest of this directory describes.

Mass torts that are winding down, settled, or closed

Mass torts do not last forever. Some reach a global settlement and stop accepting new clients, some have their filing window close by law, and some are dismissed when a court excludes the scientific evidence. People still search for these by name, so this section records where each one stands and the key dates, as of August 2026. A litigation appearing here generally means it is no longer actively recruiting, but deadlines and appeals can still matter, so treat the dates as a starting point and confirm current status before relying on them.

Who may be involved

The people involved in a mass tort are generally those who used the product, were exposed to the substance, or experienced the conduct at issue, and who later developed a related injury or condition. The specifics differ by case: a Roundup claim centers on herbicide use and a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, an AFFF claim on firefighting-foam exposure and certain cancers, a nursing-home claim on harm to a specific resident. Family members sometimes bring claims on behalf of someone who has died or cannot act for themselves. Whether any individual situation fits a particular litigation is a fact-specific question that only a licensed attorney can evaluate after reviewing the details, the medical records, and the applicable state law.

Deadlines: statutes of limitations vary by state

Every claim is subject to a statute of limitations, the legal deadline to file, and in mass torts these deadlines are easy to misjudge. They vary by state and by the type of claim, they can be shorter for wrongful death than for personal injury, and many start running not when the exposure happened but when the injury was, or reasonably should have been, discovered. Some litigations also have their own court-set deadlines or registration requirements. Because missing the deadline usually bars the claim permanently, the timing question is one of the first things to check, and it is one reason people speak with an attorney sooner rather than later. This overview cannot tell you your deadline.

How mass-tort claims and fees work

Mass-tort cases are almost always handled on a contingency-fee basis. That means you do not pay an attorney fee up front; the attorney is paid a percentage of any recovery, and if there is no recovery there is generally no fee, though clients may still be responsible for certain case costs depending on the agreement. A free initial consultation is standard and does not create an attorney-client relationship by itself. Be cautious of any source that guarantees a result or a dollar amount, because no honest attorney can promise either; outcomes depend on the evidence, the science, the specific injury, and the court.

How mass torts get resolved

Most mass torts do not end in thousands of separate trials. After the science is tested and a few bellwether cases are tried, the parties often negotiate a global settlement that resolves large groups of cases at once. These settlements are usually structured rather than a single equal payment: a settlement grid or points system assigns value based on factors like the specific injury, its severity, the strength of the proof of exposure or use, the claimant's age, and other circumstances. A claimant with a serious, well-documented injury may be placed in a higher tier than someone with a minor or poorly documented one, and some claims are rejected entirely. Settlement participation is often voluntary, and claimants generally decide, with their attorney, whether to accept an offer or keep litigating. Because the framework can take years to negotiate and administer, a mass tort is typically a slow process, not a quick payout.

Bellwether trials and why they matter

A bellwether trial is a test case. From the large pool of filed cases, the parties and the judge select a representative sample to try first. These trials are not binding on the other cases, but they are enormously influential: they show how real juries react to the evidence and the science, what damages juries award, and how the key legal rulings hold up. A string of large plaintiff verdicts tends to push defendants toward settlement and can raise the value of the remaining cases, while defense verdicts can do the opposite. For anyone following a mass tort, the bellwether results, together with the judge's rulings on whether the scientific evidence is admissible, are the clearest signals of where the litigation is heading. They are also why the status of a mass tort can shift quickly, which is why every guide here dates its status.

What compensation in a mass tort can cover

When a mass-tort claim succeeds, by settlement or verdict, compensation generally falls into recognized categories of damages, though no amount is ever guaranteed. Economic damages cover measurable losses such as medical bills, the cost of future care, and lost wages or earning capacity. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of quality of life. In cases involving a death, surviving family members may recover wrongful-death damages. A small number of cases also involve punitive damages, meant to punish especially reckless conduct and limited by law. How much any individual receives depends on the injury, the evidence, the settlement framework or the jury, and the applicable state law. Advertisements that promise a specific sum are misleading, because the value of a real claim cannot be known in advance.

How long a mass tort takes

Mass torts move on a scale of years, not months. After cases are filed and consolidated, the pretrial phase, where evidence is exchanged and the science is litigated, commonly takes a year or more on its own. Bellwether trials follow, and only then do serious settlement talks usually begin. Even after a settlement framework is announced, claimants must document their claims and awards are administered in waves, which adds more time. For someone deciding whether to pursue a claim, the practical points are that there is rarely a fast payout, that the deadline to file can arrive long before the litigation resolves, and that staying in contact with counsel matters because claim deadlines and documentation requests carry their own cutoffs.

Avoiding mass-tort advertising traps

Mass torts attract heavy advertising, and not all of it is trustworthy. Be cautious of any ad or call that guarantees you qualify, promises a specific dollar amount, pressures you to sign immediately, or asks for money upfront, because legitimate mass-tort representation is contingency-based and no one can promise a result. Unsolicited robocalls and texts claiming you are owed money are a common and often unlawful tactic, and some are outright scams that harvest personal information. A safer path is to speak directly with a licensed attorney, confirm they are licensed in a relevant state, and read any agreement before signing. You are never obligated to use the first firm that contacts you, and you can change your mind before you sign a representation agreement.

How this directory stays current

New product, drug, and chemical litigations emerge regularly, and others wind down as they settle or are dismissed, so any list is a snapshot. We review this directory against the federal courts' pending-MDL list on a recurring basis and update the entries, which is why each status is dated. Some mass torts are created by special legislation rather than ordinary litigation, such as the federal Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which opened a defined window for claims tied to contaminated water at the North Carolina base. Because a litigation's status, and even whether it survives early legal challenges to the science, can change quickly, the safest approach for any tort is to check current, authoritative sources, the federal courts and the relevant agency, rather than rely on advertising.

State-court mass torts, not just federal MDLs

Not every mass tort lives in a federal MDL. States have their own consolidation tools, such as California's Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings and similar mechanisms elsewhere, that group related cases before a single state judge. Many large litigations proceed on parallel tracks, with some cases in the federal MDL and others coordinated in state court, and the choice of forum can affect timing, procedure, and which law applies. For an individual, which track a case belongs in is a strategic question for an attorney, and it is one reason the same product can be the subject of both federal and state proceedings at the same time.

What to gather before talking to an attorney

If you decide to speak with an attorney, a consultation goes faster and is more useful if you bring the basics. Helpful items include the product or its packaging, lot numbers, or other proof of the exposure; your medical records and the diagnosis, with dates; a timeline of when and how long you used the product or were exposed; and any documentation of treatment and costs. For a claim on behalf of someone who has died, the relevant records and proof of your relationship matter. You do not need to have everything to start, and an attorney can help obtain records, but a clear timeline of dates is especially important because it bears directly on the filing deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a mass tort and a class action?

In a class action, many people are represented together and share one outcome. In a mass tort, each injured person keeps an individual lawsuit, often coordinated in one court (an MDL), so the result can reflect each person's specific injury.

What is an MDL?

A multidistrict litigation consolidates many similar federal lawsuits before a single judge for pretrial proceedings, including bellwether trials. It is not a class action; each case stays separate and can return to its home court for trial.

How do I know if I qualify for a mass tort claim?

There is no way to know from a website. Whether you may have a claim depends on the product or exposure, your injury, the timing, and your state's law. A licensed attorney can evaluate the specific facts, usually at no cost.

How much is a mass tort case worth?

There is no guaranteed amount, and any figure you see advertised is not a promise. Recoveries depend on the evidence, the injury, and the court. A verdict or settlement in one case does not set the value of another.

Is there a deadline to file?

Yes. Statutes of limitations vary by state and by claim type, and some run from when an injury is discovered. Missing the deadline usually bars the claim permanently, so it is worth checking early.

What happens to a mass tort when it settles or closes?

When a global settlement is reached or a court closes a litigation, firms usually stop taking new clients and remaining deadlines or appeals play out. People can still research closed torts, which is why this directory keeps dated status notes, but a closed or dismissed case generally is not a current claim opportunity.