Mass tort cases let many people who were hurt by the same thing or person file a lawsuit together to get justice. In these cases, dangerous drugs, broken gadgets, or toxic chemicals are often at play. They usually get national attention because they affect a lot of people. They also cause big changes in how companies act and how they handle public safety.
Large-scale lawsuit cases across the country have had an effect on some people in Baltimore. The city has a strong legal community and access to major federal courts. Because of this, people who have been hurt often get help from mass tort lawyers in Baltimore to make claims and get compensation. People can get help from these professionals to join lawsuits that are already going on across the country.
Below are some of the ongoing mass tort cases you should know about.
Opioid Litigation
One of the biggest mass tort cases in U.S. history began because of the opioid crisis. Thousands of claims were filed against drug makers, pharmacy chains, and drug distributors. Plaintiffs say that these companies’ push for opioid sales led to addiction and death.
Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson are two important companies that are involved. The company Purdue went bankrupt and agreed to pay a multi-billion-dollar settlement. Many of these cases are now all part of a big MDL in Ohio.
Roundup Weed Killer
Monsanto, which is now owned by Bayer, is being sued over the Roundup product it makes. Some people who used the weed killer say it gave them non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They say that Monsanto didn’t warn people about the risks.
Some plaintiffs have been awarded large settlements by the courts. Even though Bayer has paid out billions of dollars in settlements, it keeps getting new lawsuits. The science on glyphosate’s link to cancer risk is still not agreed upon.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson is being sued over its talcum powder. Plaintiffs say the product has asbestos in it, which gives people cancer. There are thousands of cases, and each one has a different outcome in court.
Some juries have awarded huge damages for some cases. Moving claims to a subsidiary in bankruptcy is one way that J&J has tried to cut down on its losses. These legal moves are still being challenged.
3M Combat Arms Earplugs
Military veterans have taken 3M to court over its earplugs. From 2003 to 2015, troops wore the earplugs, which were meant to protect their hearing. A lot of people claim the gadgets were defective and caused hearing loss or tinnitus.
These cases are part of a large MDL in Florida. Some juries agreed with the plaintiffs and some did not. As the pressure builds, a global settlement is possible.
PFAS Contamination
PFAS chemicals are found in a lot of everyday items, like firefighter foam and nonstick pans. These “forever chemicals” are dangerous to your health because they don’t break down. Companies like 3M and DuPont are being sued by people who were exposed to contaminated water.
Researchers have found links between PFAS and cancer, liver damage, and other things. The water that more than 110 million Americans drink may have exposed them to this contamination. There are lawsuits all over the country, but most of them are happening near military sites and factories.
Zantac Lawsuits
In 2020, Zantac was taken off the market. It was a popular medicine for heartburn. Tests showed that it could produce NDMA, a chemical that can cause cancer. Some people who took Zantac and then got cancer are now suing.
The case in court is mostly about scientific proof. Plaintiffs have to show that the drug made them sick. The case is still developing, and a lot of new claims are on the way.
