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 Vermont, as in other states, a mass tort is a type of civil action involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few defendants where the plaintiffs have comparable legal claims resulting from the defendant's conduct. These claims often arise from exposure to harmful substances, defective products, or privacy violations such as data breaches. Vermont follows the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for class actions, which allow for the consolidation of similar individual claims into a single action for efficiency and consistency. This is particularly useful in mass tort cases, where the number of affected individuals can be very large. Mass torts can be complex and require coordination among multiple jurisdictions, and they may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) if they involve federal questions. Vermont state courts also have rules that govern the certification and management of class actions, which would apply to mass torts filed at the state level. An attorney specializing in mass torts or class actions would be able to provide specific guidance on the process and requirements for filing such a lawsuit in Vermont.