A mass tort is a civil lawsuit that involves hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs and one or a few defendants in which the plaintiffs have the same or similar claims against the defendant or defendants. Mass tort lawsuits are often filed as class action lawsuits (a procedural mechanism for joining the plaintiffs in one lawsuit), and are typically based on alleged wrongful acts (torts) such as exposure of the plaintiffs to harmful substances (asbestos or benzene), or defective products (pharmaceuticals or medical devices), or invasions of privacy (data breaches).

In Idaho, as in other states, a mass tort is a type of civil lawsuit where numerous plaintiffs bring forth similar legal claims against one or a few defendants. These cases often arise from situations where plaintiffs have been harmed by things like toxic substances, defective products, or privacy violations. While mass torts can be filed individually, they are frequently handled as class action lawsuits, which allows for the consolidation of the plaintiffs' cases for a more efficient legal process. This consolidation is particularly useful in managing the complexities and scale of litigation that involves large numbers of individuals affected by the same issue. Idaho follows both state statutes and federal laws regarding the procedures and requirements for initiating and conducting a mass tort or class action lawsuit. These laws dictate how cases are certified as class actions, how plaintiffs are notified and how the litigation proceeds in court. It's important to note that mass tort cases can be complex and may involve both state and federal jurisdictions, depending on the nature of the case and the parties involved.