Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a legal process that consolidates civil cases from different federal courts into one court for pretrial proceedings. This is done when the cases share at least one common question of fact. The goal of MDL is to streamline the legal process, making it more efficient for both the parties involved and the judicial system.
Multidistrict litigation is commonly used in civil legal practice, particularly in cases involving product liability, mass torts, or complex commercial disputes. It allows for coordinated pretrial activities, such as discovery and hearings, which can save time and resources. Users can manage some aspects of MDL cases themselves with the help of legal templates available through US Legal Forms, but professional legal assistance is often advisable for more complex matters.
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A pharmaceutical company faces multiple lawsuits in different states regarding adverse effects of a drug. These cases may be consolidated into an MDL to handle pretrial motions and discovery efficiently.
Example 2: A major data breach affects customers of a retail chain, leading to numerous lawsuits across various jurisdictions. An MDL can help manage these cases collectively (hypothetical example).
The primary statute governing multidistrict litigation is 28 U.S.C. § 1407. This law outlines the procedures for transferring and consolidating civil actions for pretrial proceedings.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Class Action | A lawsuit where a group of people with similar claims sue as a collective, often against a common defendant. |
| Consolidation | The process of combining multiple legal actions into one case, which can occur outside of MDL. |
If you are involved in a case that may qualify for multidistrict litigation, consider the following steps:
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The purpose is to consolidate cases with common issues to make the legal process more efficient.