What is a mass tort?

A “tort” occurs when a person harms another through their negligent, reckless or intentional act. A “mass tort” arises when the same wrongful act harms numerous people in the same way.

In a mass tort action, the harmed people are the plaintiffs. The wrongdoers, or defendants, usually are one or a handful of corporations.

Mass torts commonly involve people harmed by defective products such as medical devices or pharmaceutical products. A mass tort often is triggered by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning, product recall, news reports or a study that reveals dangers associated with a product.