What is a mass tort lawsuit?

A mass tort is either an act or a failure to act that harms numerous people. Since tort is another word for personal injury, a mass tort lawsuit is a legal method used to group multiple similar personal injury cases together to seek similar remedies. Examples of mass tort cases include explosions, plane crashes, groundwater and other toxic environmental contamination, and pollution.

Mass tort cases are similar to, but distinct from, class action lawsuits. In a class action case, a large group of plaintiffs is considered a class, is represented by one class representative, and is treated as one plaintiff by the court. In a mass tort suit, however, each member of the tort is still treated as an individual—so they must prove their injuries separately and they receive separate compensation for their injuries. To find out if you’re eligible to file a mass tort claim, reach out to the experienced mass tort lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today and schedule your free consultation!