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 and to reduce the burden on the court system. In New Mexico, as in other states, cases that are part of an MDL are handled in the federal court system, not the state courts. After the MDL process is complete, the cases are typically sent back to their original courts for trial. Common types of cases involved in MDLs include product liability suits, such as those against pharmaceutical companies, securities fraud cases, and litigation arising from airplane accidents. 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.