Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)

Multidistrict Litigation is a federal court procedure that gathers many separate lawsuits sharing common factual questions and sends them to a single judge for coordinated pretrial handling. Each case keeps its own identity and, if not settled, is returned to its original court for trial. MDL is designed to avoid duplicate discovery, inconsistent rulings, and wasted effort when thousands of people sue the same defendants over the same kind of harm.

Origin

Created by Congress through the Multidistrict Litigation Act of 1968 (28 U.S.C. § 1407), which established the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML). The asbestos MDL, known as MDL 875, was created in 1991 and centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; at its peak it included more than 190,000 personal injury cases, making it the largest MDL in U.S. history.

Significance in Asbestos Context

If your case is filed in federal court, it may be swept into the asbestos MDL or a successor proceeding for pretrial steps such as discovery, expert challenges, and settlement discussions before being returned to a local court for trial. This matters to patients because MDL procedures can affect how quickly your case moves, how depositions are scheduled (which is critical for someone with mesothelioma or advanced lung cancer), and whether your case is grouped with others for settlement. Many asbestos cases today are filed in state court specifically to avoid MDL delays, so your legal team's decision about where to file is strategic. Patients with declining health should ask their attorneys whether a preference or expedited trial motion is available to move their case ahead of the typical MDL timeline.

Example Sentence

Because her mesothelioma diagnosis was advanced, her attorney filed in state court rather than risk her claim being slowed by transfer to the federal asbestos MDL.

Related Terms

Mass Tort, Consolidation, Bellwether Trial, Asbestos Trust, Preference Motion, Forum Selection

Notes

• Ask your attorney whether your case will be filed in state or federal court, and why. This choice often determines whether MDL procedures apply.
• If you are seriously ill, ask specifically about a motion for trial preference or expedited discovery so your testimony can be preserved through a videotaped deposition.
• Preserve work history records, product identification details, and military or union records early; MDL discovery rules often require this information on a strict schedule.
• An MDL settlement offer isn't the same as a verdict. Review any group settlement carefully with your attorney to understand how your individual diagnosis and exposure history affect your share.