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.

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal legal procedure that consolidates multiple lawsuits that share common factual issues to improve efficiency and convenience during pretrial proceedings, including discovery. While MDL is a federal mechanism, it affects cases from all states, including Kentucky. Cases that are part of an MDL are transferred to a single federal district court to handle pretrial matters. Once pretrial proceedings are complete, the cases are typically sent back to their original courts for trial. In Kentucky, as in other states, MDL can involve a variety of claims such as product liability suits against pharmaceutical companies, securities fraud cases, and airplane crash litigation. It's important to note that MDL is distinct from class action lawsuits and is governed by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation under 28 U.S.C. § 1407. Kentucky federal district courts may either send cases to an MDL or receive cases from other districts as part of this process.