Science Day is a non-adversarial presentation early in an MDL where the parties educate the court on the medical, scientific, or technical background of the litigation. Presentations are typically not evidence and cannot be cited later.
Format varies, with some courts permitting experts to present and others limiting presentations to counsel.
Alternative Names:
Science Day Presentation, Educational Session
Why it Matters?
Science Day shapes how the judge understands the litigation before any contested motion, which gives it influence disproportionate to its non-evidentiary status. The presentation that frames the scientific questions clearly and acknowledges genuine uncertainty tends to build more credibility than one that argues. For defendants facing general causation challenges later, establishing the methodological standards early is the objective rather than winning the day.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Is Science Day evidence?
What is the objective for the defense?
