Mass tort

A mass tort is a civil action involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few defendants in state or federal court. The lawsuits arise out of the defendants causing numerous injuries through the same or similar act of harm (e.g. a prescription drug, a medical device, a defective product, a train accident, a plane crash, pollution, or a construction disaster).

Law firms sometimes use mass media to reach potential plaintiffs.

The main categories of mass torts include:
 * Medical device injuries
 * Motor vehicle defects
 * Prescription drug injuries
 * Product liability injuries
 * Toxic contamination

In U.S. federal courts, mass tort claims are often consolidated as multidistrict litigation. In some cases, mass torts are addressed through a class action.