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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
A mass tort is a lawsuit brought against an individual or an organization for causing harm to a group of people. The plaintiffs claim that a single act by the defendant caused them all harm. The plaintiffs, through the mass tort, are seeking damages caused by the negligence of the defendant.
Mass torts are different from class action lawsuits and can be a powerful way to seek justice against a company or individual who has harmed others. Learn more about these cases and explore some current examples of mass tort suits in the media.
Mass Tort vs. Class Action
Both mass tort lawsuits and class action cases involve multiple plaintiffs. With a class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs were harmed in the same way and they all have similar complaints against the defendant. With a mass tort lawsuit, the plaintiffs were harmed in different ways but all were impacted by the same cause. Additionally, a class action lawsuit is brought to court by a single party representing the plaintiff, whereas each plaintiff is represented independently in a mass tort.
It’s easier to understand the difference between a mass tort and a class action lawsuit by looking at examples. If a technology company had a data breach and hundreds of customers had their identity stolen, then the affected customers could file a class action suit. They all experienced the same hardship of having their data exposed to cyber terrorists.
Conversely, if a company sold products that contained cancer-causing chemicals, the affected plaintiffs might bring a mass tort against the organization. Some plaintiffs might have developed certain types of cancer, while others experienced different medical issues. The cause of the medical maladies was the same, but the experiences, damages, and results were different.
What Are the Types of Mass Torts?
There are multiple types of mass torts that support different plaintiffs. The mass tort you join or bring against an organization will depend on your situation and how you were harmed. Here are a few common types of mass torts.
- Defective products: In these cases, companies sell products that do not work as they should. These defective products can range from baby supplies to medical devices.
- Dangerous medications: These torts are related to medications that have undisclosed side effects or serious risks for the people who take them. The torts seek to prove the pharmaceutical manufacturer did not disclose the issues while marketing the medication to patients.
- Plane crashes: These cases occur when there is a plane crash that could have been prevented with proper maintenance and care. The mass tort is usually filed against the airline for not keeping up with its fleet.
- Groundwater contamination: These torts are brought against companies that contaminate the environment around them. There could be leaks within the factory that released toxic chemicals into the water or the company could have intentionally dumped its waste into nearby streams.
- Toxic torts: These torts refer to any case where the plaintiffs were exposed to toxic chemicals. Toxic torts can also be groundwater torts or defective product torts depending on the source of the contamination.
Despite the different categories, these torts are all made up of victims who thought the products they used and the environment around them were safe, while they were actually being harmed.
Notable Mass Tort Cases
One way to familiarize yourself with mass torts is to look at some of the most notable cases occurring right now. Here are a few examples of plaintiffs speaking out about the harm companies caused them while seeking damages to cover their medical bills and emotional distress.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Between 1953 and 1987 residents of Camp Lejeune, a military base in North Carolina, were exposed to toxic water caused by chemical leaks near the base. Service members, their families, and civilians who worked on the base were all exposed to this toxic water. They drank, bathed, and cooked with the water — and even used it in medical procedures. They thought this water was perfectly safe, even though they were being exposed to toxic chemicals.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently accepting claims by victims who were harmed by this water. Plaintiffs have reported a variety of medical conditions, ranging from different cancers to infertility to birth defects in children who are in utero while their mothers lived on base.
Chemical Hair Straightener
Chemical hair straighteners and relaxers allow women with thick and curly hair to permanently straighten it. While these products are considered effective, they are also dangerous. Researchers have found a correlation between the use of chemical hair straighteners and the development of certain cancers. Women who use these products are more likely to develop ovarian and breast cancer.
Now that there is a known association between these harsh chemicals and the development of certain cancers, women who are affected by these products can bring mass torts against the companies who sell them. They can seek damages to cover their medical bills and cover the distress that comes with receiving a positive cancer diagnosis.
Roundup Weed Killer
Roundup is one of the most common weed killers in the United States. However, the chemicals in this product have been proven to cause significant medical issues in the people who are exposed to them. People who work in farming and landscaping are more likely to experience health issues and develop cancer due to Roundup exposure. Many of these workers handled Roundup daily for several years.
There are several active mass torts against Roundup for its cancer-causing properties. This is another toxic tort example because the chemicals negatively impacted the consumers who thought they were safe.
Finding a Mass Tort Lawyer
If you feel like you were harmed by an organization or a product, you may be able to join a mass tort case. Meet with an experienced mass tort lawyer to review your situation. Explain how you experienced emotional distress and medical complications because of a product, company, or environment that you thought was safe. You don’t need to be a legal expert when you have a team of top-notch lawyers on your side. They can help you seek justice and get the compensation you deserve.