What do Mass Tort Lawyers Do?

The process of handling mass torts can feel complicated to many people. Individuals considering this legal option often wonder: what do mass tort lawyers do? These attorneys generally handle litigation involving instances where multiple people get hurt by one party. 

Mass tort lawyers often go up against large corporations, like pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, or airlines. They represent the needs of many people, helping large groups seek compensation and closure after acts of negligence. 

You can learn more about the responsibilities of a mass tort lawsuit lawyer with our team at Zanes Law. Call or fill out our online contact form to get started.

What does a Mass Tort Lawyer Do?

Mass tort lawyers specialize in handling lawsuits that involve large groups of plaintiffs who have been harmed in similar ways, often by the same defendant or group of defendants. Here are some key things mass tort lawyers do:

Investigate Potential Mass Tort Cases

A mass tort attorney may evaluate incidents, products, and medications that caused individuals injuries or financial losses. They look for signs of negligence or wrongdoing. This investigation often requires extensive research.

Recruit Clients

Once lawyers identify a potential mass tort, they work to recruit as many plaintiffs impacted by the issue as possible, determining if they have a case. Mass lawsuits gain strength and leverage with higher numbers, making this step very important. 

Law firms connect with potential plaintiffs through advertising and outreach campaigns. They build databases of people who used a product or medication, lived in an area, and worked for certain employers.

File Mass Tort Lawsuits

Mass tort lawyers file lawsuits on behalf of the group of plaintiffs. This action consolidates all the claims into one legal action, allowing plaintiffs to stand up to large and powerful defendants. 

Handle Litigation

Mass tort lawyers handle all aspects of mass tort litigation, including:

• Discovery
• Motions
• Legal research
• Deposing witnesses
• Pre-trial actions

These legal processes often become more complex with many plaintiffs.

Resolve a Mass Tort Claim

Mass tort lawyers have experience negotiating settlements with defendants, often aiming to reach a single large settlement for the entire group of plaintiffs. If they can’t reach a settlement, the lawyers can take the mass tort case to trial seeking damages for the plaintiffs.

Manage Settlement Awards

Upon a settlement or favorable verdict, a mass tort lawyer can oversee the proper distribution of monetary awards to each of the plaintiffs involved.

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What’s the Goal of a Mass Tort Lawsuit?

Mass tort lawyers file lawsuits to hold corporations, entities, or individuals accountable for widespread harm done to a large group of people through unsafe products, environmental damage, medications, toxic exposures, or other dangerous factors. 

Mass torts can sometimes involve thousands of plaintiffs, allowing many people to seek compensation and closure for their injuries and losses. Mass torts resemble class action suits with a few significant differences. 

How do Mass Tort Lawyers Investigate Claims?

Mass tort lawyers use various methods to investigate claims and build mass tort cases. Attorneys may:

Identify Injury Patterns

Attorneys look for patterns of harm and injury that may indicate a defective product, medication, or toxic exposure affecting large groups of people. They research industry data, government reports, medical studies, and news stories.

Interview Plaintiffs

Mass tort lawyers conduct detailed interviews with plaintiffs to understand their experiences, timeline of harm, and damages. This personal information provides data points for the case.

Conduct Research

Mass tort lawyers often perform extensive research on the product, chemical, or medication in question to uncover its risks, testing data, manufacturer knowledge, and complaints.

Lawyers may also look for government data. Documents and adverse event data collected by regulatory agencies like the FDA, CPSC, and the EPA may demonstrate a pattern of harm not heeded by a defendant.

Work with Experts

Mass tort attorneys use medical experts, scientists, researchers, and other specialists to establish links between the product or substance and the plaintiffs’ injuries. The testimony of these witnesses can strengthen mass tort claims. 

Acquire Company Documents

During discovery, mass tort lawyers can request or subpoena internal memos, studies, test results, and communications that may reveal what the defendant company knew about product risks, strengthening the case for their clients.

Look at the Results of Scientific Testing

In some cases, lawyers order independent lab tests of products or materials to prove contamination or defects not disclosed by the company.

By leveraging all these techniques, mass tort attorneys aim to prove liability and causation for a large group of plaintiffs in a consolidated case. A thorough investigation lays the groundwork for successful litigation or settlement negotiations.

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How Long do Mass Tort Lawyers Work on Claims?

Mass tort lawyers often work on claims over extremely long timelines, frequently many years or even decades. There are a few reasons for this:

• Mass tort claims require extensive research, discovery, and expert analysis
• Building a large plaintiff group takes continuous time and effort
• Mass tort cases involve lengthy pre-trial litigation 
• Settlement negotiations happen over months or years before the resolution
• Cases that go to trial can last months
• Some mass torts involve diseases or health effects that take decades to emerge

Additionally, new links between products and injuries may become evident as medical research evolves that were not known before. Finally, if the defendant files for bankruptcy, cases stall and can take years to resolve through those proceedings.

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Contact Us to Learn More About Mass Torts Lawyers

You can learn more about what mass tort lawyers do by contacting our Zanes Law team. We’re ready to answer your questions and help if you have a mass torts claim. We support you with our legal experience and knowledge.

Call or fill out our online contact form to get started. 

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