Mass torts aggregate large numbers of individual claims arising from a common source, typically pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemical exposures, or defective products. Unlike class actions, each claim retains its individual identity and requires individual proof of exposure, causation, and damages.
Coordination occurs through federal multidistrict litigation, state consolidated proceedings, or informal case management.
Alternative Names:
Mass Tort Litigation, Aggregate Tort Litigation
Why it Matters?
The defining feature is that individualized causation prevents class treatment, so a defendant faces thousands of separate cases rather than one aggregate proceeding. That shapes everything: discovery is conducted once on general issues and repeatedly on case-specific ones, resolution happens through inventory deals rather than a single settlement, and the defendant's exposure depends as much on claim volume and screening quality as on the merits of any individual case.
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Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why are mass torts not brought as class actions?
How are mass torts coordinated?
