Multidistrict litigation is a legal procedure in United States federal courts in which lawsuits involving similar issues (common issues of fact) are consolidated in one court (called the MDL court) for the purpose of convenience and efficiency in pretrial matters, such as discovery. These lawsuits are generally returned to their original federal district courts for trial. Claims that are often the subject of multidistrict litigation are product liability claims against pharmaceutical companies, securities fraud cases, and airplane crashes.

In Iowa, as in other states, multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal legal procedure that consolidates multiple lawsuits involving common factual issues to improve efficiency and convenience during pretrial proceedings. This process is governed by federal law, specifically 28 U.S.C. § 1407. When cases from Iowa are involved in MDL, they are transferred to the designated MDL court, which may be in a different state. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decides whether cases should be consolidated under MDL and where the consolidated proceedings will take place. After pretrial activities, such as discovery and motions, are completed, the cases are typically sent back to their original courts for trial. MDL is commonly used for complex cases like product liability suits involving pharmaceuticals, securities fraud, and major accidents like airplane crashes. It's important to note that while MDL helps manage federal cases, it does not affect state court proceedings unless a specific state statute or rule provides a similar mechanism for consolidation at the state level.