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Civil litigation

multi-district litigation

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 Vermont, as in all states, multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal legal procedure, not governed by state law but by federal rules. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), established under 28 U.S.C. § 1407, decides whether cases should be consolidated under MDL and which federal court will oversee the pretrial proceedings. This process is designed to streamline complex litigation involving similar factual issues across multiple federal district courts. Cases typically involved in MDL include product liability, securities fraud, and mass torts such as airplane crashes. After the pretrial phase, the cases are usually sent back to their original courts for trial. Vermont attorneys involved in MDL must navigate federal procedural rules and coordinate with the designated MDL court, which may be in a different state.

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Civil litigation

multi-district litigation

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Vermont State Code

Civil litigation

multi-district litigation

Articles