When a large entity is negligent, and that negligence results in an injury, there is a high probability the person injured is not the only one the organization’s product or service harmed. In some cases, injuries from a product or service can happen in several areas around a state or several states, resulting in multiple lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions filed for the same reason by different plaintiffs. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand the ins and outs of a Mass Tort lawsuit.
That costs a lot and creates a lot of replication of fact-finding, witness depositions, briefs, etc. One way that can help get the management of multiple plaintiff lawsuits under control is a Mass Tort lawsuit.
Mass Tort Defined
Mass torts have multiple plaintiffs that have filed negligence suits against one or several defendant corporations. However, each assertion of negligence must be filed separately to receive a portion of any settlement or award.
A Mass Tort is not a Class Action Lawsuit.
While a Class Action and Mass Tort lawsuit appear to be similar, there are some key differences. First, a defendant in a Class Action lawsuit does not have to file their case. Class Action lawsuits are usually pursued when many people have the same complaint, but individually the claim is not worth pursuing in court.
With a Mass Tort lawsuit, if a person has not filed a separate lawsuit, they are not eligible for an award. This is true even if they suffered the same injury or illness because of the same organization’s negligence.
Why File with a Personal Injury Lawyer?
A Mass Tort Lawsuit allows for plaintiffs to share aspects of the lawsuit to save time and money. For example, discovery requests might have contributions from every law firm involved.
If you think you may have a candidate for a Mass Tort lawsuit, contact a personal injury lawyer at Robert J. DeBry & Associates today for a free consultation.