Active Mass Tort Litigation (May 2026): MDL Cases Accepting Claims

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What is a mass tort? (Plain definition)
Mass tort vs. class action vs. MDL
How an MDL actually works
Active mass tort cases accepting claims (2026)
Pharmaceutical claims
Medical device and recall claims
Toxic exposure and consumer product claims
Digital harm claims
How to join a mass tort lawsuit
Mass tort FAQs

Active Mass Tort Litigation (2026)

(MDL Cases Currently Accepting Claims, Plain English Overview)

A mass tort is a civil action brought by many plaintiffs against one or a few defendants for harm caused by a common product or course of conduct. Each plaintiff keeps an individual claim. The cases get coordinated for pretrial work because they share the same core questions.

This page is the working list of active U.S. mass tort cases. It tells you which MDLs are still accepting plaintiffs, which conditions or injuries qualify, and where each case is in the timeline.

If your name fits a row on this page, the case review is free. Read the section that applies and follow the link to the full intake page for that litigation.

What Is a Mass Tort? Explained Simply

A "tort" is a civil wrong. A "mass tort" is a wrong that injured many people in the same way. The classic shape: a manufacturer sells a product, the product hurts a lot of people, those people sue. A mass tort attorney represents one or many of those people in their individual claims, coordinated alongside others through the multidistrict litigation process.

Examples that have already produced major settlements: asbestos exposure, tobacco smoking, dangerous drugs (Vioxx, Yaz, opioids), defective medical devices (transvaginal mesh, hip implants, IUDs), toxic exposure (PFAS in drinking water, glyphosate in Roundup), and consumer products (talc-ovarian cancer, hair relaxers).

"A mass tort lets thousands of people sue the same defendant without forcing them to surrender their individual claims."

Mass Tort vs. Class Action vs. MDL

These terms get used interchangeably. They are not the same thing.

A class action is a single lawsuit. One named plaintiff represents a class of people who all have substantially identical claims. The class either wins or loses together. Settlement payouts get divided among class members under a court-approved formula. Individual class members do not control their own cases.

A mass tort is many individual lawsuits. Each plaintiff has her own claim, her own injury profile, her own settlement value. The cases share defendants and core legal questions. They do not share outcomes.

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is the procedural tool that coordinates many federal mass tort cases for pretrial work. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) transfers similar cases to one federal judge for discovery, expert challenges, and bellwether trials. After pretrial work is done, cases that have not settled are remanded to the originating courts for trial.

Most modern mass torts are organized as MDLs. Class actions are now relatively rare for personal injury cases because individual injury profiles are too varied to certify a class.

How an MDL Actually Works

The mechanics matter. They explain why mass tort cases take years and why the timeline is largely outside any one plaintiff's control.

Step 1: Cases get filed in federal courts across the country

Initial filings

Plaintiffs file in their home federal courts (or state courts, with later removal). When the cases involve the same defendants and the same core questions, the JPML can centralize them.

The JPML evaluates whether the actions involve common questions of fact and whether centralization will serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the actions. If yes, it issues a transfer order.

Step 2: Cases are transferred to a single federal judge

Centralization

The transferee judge handles all pretrial proceedings: motions, discovery, expert challenges, bellwether selection. The judge also appoints lead counsel for plaintiffs (a Plaintiffs' Steering Committee or PSC) and lead counsel for defendants.

The PSC negotiates with the defense, conducts coordinated discovery, and runs the bellwether trial process. Individual plaintiffs' counsel still represents the individual case but coordinates with the PSC.

Step 3: Bellwether trials and settlement negotiation

Test cases

Bellwether trials are early test cases selected from the pool. Their verdicts give both sides information about how juries see the evidence. Bellwether outcomes drive settlement negotiations.

If verdicts go heavily for plaintiffs, defendants negotiate. If verdicts go heavily for defendants, plaintiffs negotiate. Most large MDLs eventually resolve through a global settlement matrix that tiers payouts by injury type and severity.

Cases that do not settle get remanded back to the original courts for individual trial.

Active Mass Tort Cases (2026)

The list below covers active MDLs accepting plaintiffs as of May 2026. Each litigation is grouped by category. Click through to the dedicated intake page for a full breakdown of qualifying conditions, court information, statute of limitations, and settlement structure.

This list updates as cases progress, settle, or close to new claimants. Confirm eligibility through a free case review before filing.

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (MDL 3094)

Plaintiffs allege that semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide medications cause severe gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), intestinal blockage, gallbladder disease, and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Bellwether selection in progress.

Qualifying diagnoses: gastroparesis, intestinal obstruction, gallbladder removal, NAION (sudden vision loss), severe persistent vomiting requiring ER care.

Zantac (Ranitidine) MDL 2924 and JCCP

Generic ranitidine cases survive in California state court (JCCP) after the federal MDL was dismissed in 2022. GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim face individual cases alleging that ranitidine breaks down into NDMA, a probable human carcinogen, especially when stored at high temperatures. Bladder cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer claims continue.

Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder (MDL 2738)

Ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claims tied to long-term use of J&J baby powder and Shower-to-Shower. Multiple bankruptcy attempts (LTL Management) have been rejected. Cases continue in MDL 2738 and in state courts. Settlement negotiations ongoing.

Tylenol / Acetaminophen Autism (MDL 3043)

Daubert ruling in December 2023 excluded plaintiffs' general-causation experts. Most claims dismissed. Some plaintiffs are appealing; some are pursuing state-law theories. New filings are not currently being accepted in the federal MDL.

Philips CPAP, BiPAP, and Ventilator Recall (MDL 3014)

Approximately 15 million devices recalled in June 2021 over PE-PUR foam degradation. Settlement programs resolved many economic and PI claims; new cancer and pulmonary disease claims continue under the discovery rule. W.D. Pa., Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

Qualifying diagnoses: lung cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, hematologic cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, reactive airway disease, severe new-onset asthma.

Paragard IUD Breakage (MDL 2974)

Copper IUD allegedly fractures during removal, leaving fragments embedded in the uterus. CooperSurgical (and predecessors) named. N.D. Ga., Judge Leigh Martin May. Bellwether trials being prepared.

Qualifying claims: IUD breakage on removal, surgical retrieval of fragments, hysterectomy, infection, perforation.

Exactech Hip and Knee Implants (MDL 3044)

Polyethylene insert oxidation in Optetrak, Truliant, and Vantage implants. Recalls expanded through 2022. E.D.N.Y. Revision-surgery and pain claims active.

Hernia Mesh (multiple MDLs)

Bard, Atrium C-QUR, Ethicon Physiomesh, and Covidien mesh products implicated in chronic pain, infection, mesh migration, and revision surgery. MDLs 2846 (Bard) and others active. Some have entered settlement programs.

Hair Relaxer Cancer Claims (MDL 3060)

L'Oreal, Strength of Nature, Soft Sheen Carson, Revlon, and Namaste/Dabur named. Endocrine-disrupting compounds in chemical relaxers linked to uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine fibroids. N.D. Ill., Judge Mary M. Rowland. Catalyst: 2022 NIH Sister Study.

AFFF Firefighting Foam PFAS (MDL 2873)

3M, DuPont, Chemours, Tyco, Kidde-Fenwal, National Foam, and others. Kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis claims for firefighters, military personnel, and exposed residents. D.S.C., Judge Richard Gergel. Personal injury bellwethers active after $11.5B+ in 2023 water-utility settlements.

Roundup (Glyphosate) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Bayer/Monsanto. The original federal MDL 2741 (N.D. Cal., Judge Vince Chhabria) produced major bellwether verdicts and a 2020 partial settlement. Litigation continues in state courts and through individual filings. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the lead diagnosis.

NEC Infant Formula (MDL 3026)

Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson (Enfamil) named. Premature infants fed cow-milk-based formula in NICUs allegedly developed necrotizing enterocolitis at elevated rates. N.D. Ill., Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer. Bellwether verdicts have produced both defense and plaintiff wins.

Social Media Adolescent Mental Health (MDL 3047)

Meta (Instagram, Facebook), TikTok (ByteDance), Snap, and YouTube (Google) named. Plaintiffs allege algorithmic design features cause teen depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and suicide. N.D. Cal., Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Section 230 motions partially defeated. School-district plaintiffs proceeding alongside individuals.

Qualifying claimants: minors and young adults with documented mental health diagnoses linked to platform use, parents, and school districts.

How to Join a Mass Tort Lawsuit

The path is simpler than people expect.

Step one: free case review. Share your diagnosis, your product or exposure history, and any records you already have. The intake call is no-obligation.

Step two: confirm eligibility. The intake team checks the qualifying diagnoses, the product use period, and the statute of limitations for your state.

Step three: medical-record collection. We pull pathology reports, surgical records, and treatment records that document the qualifying diagnosis.

Step four: filing. Most cases are filed directly in the relevant MDL through a direct-filing order or a short-form complaint. Plaintiff fact sheets document use history and damages.

Step five: discovery and resolution. Depending on the MDL, your case may resolve through a global settlement matrix, an individual settlement, a bellwether trial outcome, or remand to your home state for trial.

Contingency fee. You pay nothing out of pocket. The firm only gets paid if and when you recover.

Why a Free Case Review Matters Even When You Are Unsure

The biggest mistake in mass tort cases is waiting to see if the case "becomes" what it really is. Diagnoses get clearer over time. Product histories get harder to reconstruct. Statutes of limitations close.

The case review is a triage step. If you do not qualify, you find out in 15 minutes. If you do qualify, you preserve evidence and protect your filing window.

Take Away: Mass tort claims succeed on documentation and timing. Both are easier to fix early than late.

Mass Tort Lawsuit: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a mass tort and a class action?: A: A class action is one lawsuit. One named plaintiff represents a class with substantially identical claims. The class wins or loses together, and individual class members do not control their own cases. A mass tort is many individual lawsuits brought by many plaintiffs against shared defendants. Each plaintiff keeps her own case, her own injury profile, and her own settlement value. Mass torts are coordinated through multidistrict litigation (MDL); class actions are not. For modern personal injury claims, mass tort is almost always the right structure because individual injuries vary too much to certify a class.
Q: How do I join a mass tort lawsuit?: A: You file an individual claim, you don't 'join' an existing one. The intake process is simple. Step one: free case review. Step two: medical record collection to confirm a qualifying diagnosis. Step three: direct filing in the MDL through a short-form complaint. Step four: plaintiff fact sheet documenting your specific case. Step five: discovery and resolution through bellwether-driven settlement matrix or remand for trial. A mass tort lawyer with MDL experience handles the procedural mechanics.
Q: What is multidistrict litigation (MDL)?: A: Multidistrict litigation is the federal procedural tool that coordinates many similar cases for pretrial work. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) transfers cases that share common factual questions to one federal judge for discovery, expert challenges, and bellwether trials. Once pretrial work is complete, cases that have not settled are remanded to the originating courts for trial. MDLs are not class actions; each case keeps its own identity throughout.
Q: How long does a mass tort lawsuit take?: A: Several years is typical. Discovery, expert challenges (Daubert), bellwether trials, and settlement negotiations all take time. Some MDLs resolve in 3 to 5 years. Others run longer. Filing early protects your statute of limitations and keeps you in the bellwether pool. Patience is part of the structure, but the procedural milestones are predictable once a case is filed.
Q: What does a mass tort attorney cost?: A: Contingency fee. You pay no out-of-pocket fees. Attorney fees come from money recovered in the case. If we do not recover, you owe nothing. This is the standard structure across mass tort, MDL, and product-liability litigation.
Q: What is a bellwether trial?: A: Bellwether trials are early test cases selected from the larger MDL pool. Their verdicts give both sides information about how juries see the evidence. Bellwether outcomes drive settlement negotiations. If verdicts go heavily for plaintiffs, defendants negotiate. If they go heavily for defendants, plaintiffs negotiate. Most large MDLs eventually resolve through a global settlement matrix that tiers payouts by injury type and severity.
Q: Can I file a mass tort lawsuit if my loved one died?: A: Yes. Wrongful death claims are part of every active MDL on this page. Surviving spouses, children, and (in some states) parents have standing to file. The wrongful death clock typically runs from the date of death rather than the diagnosis date. See our wrongful death lawyer overview.

Talk to a Mass Tort Lawyer Today

If your situation matches any of the active cases on this page, the case review is free and confidential. Our firm handles mass tort claims on contingency. You owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Many of these cases involve catastrophic diagnoses and shortened life expectancies. Where the injury is fatal, surviving family may have a separate wrongful death claim. Where a product caused harm, see our overview of defective drug lawsuits and broader product liability claims.

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Mass Tort Litigation Hub: Active MDL Cases (2026)

What Is a Mass Tort?

Active MDL Cases

How to Join