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 New York, as in other states, multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal procedural mechanism designed to streamline complex litigation involving similar factual issues. MDL allows for the centralization of federal civil cases from different districts to one court for pretrial proceedings. This consolidation aims to improve efficiency, reduce the burden on the parties and the courts, and avoid inconsistent rulings. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), a group of federal judges, decides whether cases should be consolidated under MDL and which district court will oversee the pretrial matters. After the pretrial phase, the cases are typically remanded back to their original courts for trial. MDL is commonly used for cases such as product liability suits, including those against pharmaceutical companies, as well as securities fraud and mass torts like airplane crash litigation. While MDL is a federal process, it can include cases that have been filed in New York federal courts, and the pretrial proceedings may also take place in a New York federal district court if chosen by the JPML.