A Lone Pine order, named for a New Jersey toxic tort decision, requires each claimant to submit threshold evidentiary support, typically expert affidavits establishing exposure, a qualifying diagnosis, and a causal connection.
Failure to comply results in dismissal, often with prejudice.
Alternative Names:
Lone Pine, Prima Facie Showing Order
Why it Matters?
Lone Pine is the most effective tool for culling unsupportable claims from a large inventory, because it demands actual expert proof rather than the self-reported information a fact sheet collects. Courts vary in willingness to enter such orders and in timing, with many requiring that general causation be established first. Obtaining one after a favorable Daubert ruling is the strongest position, since claimants must then produce case-specific proof against a settled scientific framework.
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Frequently asked questions
How does a Lone Pine order differ from a fact sheet?
When are these orders most effective?
