What is an MDL?

“MDL” stands for “multidistrict litigation.” When many different plaintiffs file lawsuits in federal courts in different parts of the country against the same defendants, alleging similar harm, the lawsuits can be centralized in the same U.S. District Court. MDLs are common in product liability claims.

An MDL helps to speed up and cut down on the costs of litigation and avoids the risk of inconsistent rulings. At the same time, it allows individual plaintiffs to maintain separate lawsuits.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decides whether to consolidate lawsuits into an MDL, chooses the court where the MDL will be conducted and picks the judge or judges to oversee the litigation.