WDW: Basic Mass Tort Law

How confident do you feel about mass tort material? (Don't worry; your answer won't affect your score)

• Very confident!

• Confident

• Kind of confident

• I literally wait until Friday afternoon to edit these

What is a mass tort?

• When one person suffers harm because of multiple defendants

• When multiple people suffer similar injuries because of the same defendant

• A standard personal injury case against a corporation

• When one person suffered injuries because of one party

Answer explanation

Mass torts generally include lawsuits against billion-dollar companies, like pharmaceutical corporations

What would constitute a mass tort?

• A slip and fall accident at a chain grocery store

• A collision between two drivers

• A medication that gives multiple people cancer

• A faulty machine that causes a workplace injury

Answer explanation

A recent mass tort involved Zantac, where 50,000 people sued after alleging that the medication caused cancer.

What's the purpose of a mass tort?

• To hold one entity responsible for multiple people's damages

• To get a product recalled

• To impose criminal charges on a negligent corporation

• To secure more money than a personal injury claim would

True/False

In a mass tort, the suing party is called a "class."

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The suing party is called a "class" in class action lawsuits, which are not the same as mass torts.

Fill in the blank.

In a mass tort, _____ plaintiffs aim to hold the negligent party financially accountable.

Fill in the blank.

Multiple plaintiffs aim to hold ___ party accountable for their losses.

Fill in the blank.

A ___ trial may be held to determine how a mass tort may unfold.

Choose all that apply.

Why would someone join a mass tort rather than file their own case?

• Litigants can share resources to build a solid case

• It "levels the playing field" against large corporations or agencies

• Mass torts are shorter than personal injury lawsuits

• You can get more money with a mass tort

Choose all that apply.

How can a lawyer help with a mass tort?

• They can file the necessary paperwork

• They can recover money for everyone involved

• They can hold the at-fault party financially accountable

• You can file a mass tort on your own