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 allows for the consolidation of multiple lawsuits that share common factual issues to be transferred to a single federal district court. This process is designed to make pretrial proceedings, including discovery, more efficient by avoiding duplicate efforts and inconsistent rulings across different courts. In North Carolina, as in other states, cases that are part of an MDL are handled in the federal court system, not the state courts. Once the pretrial phase is completed, the cases are typically sent back to their original courts for trial. MDLs are commonly used in cases involving product liability, such as those against pharmaceutical companies, as well as in securities fraud cases and major accidents like airplane crashes. It's important to note that while MDLs are a federal matter, the outcomes can affect state residents who are parties to the lawsuits. An attorney with experience in federal litigation and MDLs would be able to provide specific guidance on these matters.