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 Texas, as in other states, multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a process used to handle federal lawsuits that share common issues of fact, allowing them to be consolidated for pretrial proceedings. This consolidation is aimed at promoting efficiency and consistency in the discovery process and other pretrial matters. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), a group of federal judges, decides whether cases should be transferred to an MDL court. Once pretrial activities are completed, the cases are typically sent back to their original courts for trial. MDLs are common in complex cases, such as those involving product liability claims against pharmaceutical companies, securities fraud, and airplane accidents. It's important to note that while MDLs help manage federal cases, state courts in Texas may have similar procedures for state-level claims, known as multidistrict litigation under the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. An attorney can provide specific guidance on how MDLs or similar state procedures may apply to a particular case in Texas.
