A mass tort is a civil lawsuit that involves hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs and one or a few defendants in which the plaintiffs have the same or similar claims against the defendant or defendants. Mass tort lawsuits are often filed as class action lawsuits (a procedural mechanism for joining the plaintiffs in one lawsuit), and are typically based on alleged wrongful acts (torts) such as exposure of the plaintiffs to harmful substances (asbestos or benzene), or defective products (pharmaceuticals or medical devices), or invasions of privacy (data breaches).
In Texas, a mass tort is a type of civil litigation that allows a large number of plaintiffs to sue one or a few defendants for similar claims of harm or injury. These cases often arise from exposure to harmful substances, defective products, or privacy violations such as data breaches. While mass torts can be filed individually, they are frequently handled as class action lawsuits, which is a legal procedure that consolidates many individual claims into a single lawsuit to streamline the process and address common issues collectively. Texas follows both state statutes and federal laws governing class actions and mass torts, including the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Rule 23 which outlines the requirements for class action lawsuits. These rules ensure that the case is appropriately managed and that the interests of all parties are fairly represented. Mass tort cases in Texas are complex and require careful adherence to procedural rules, and plaintiffs typically engage an attorney with specialized experience in this area of law to navigate the legal process.
