Information about Multi-district Litigation (MDL)

Active MDLs in the Northern District

The list below includes all active MDLs in the District. MDLs are managed by the office where the assigned Judge sits.  Certain MDLs have been designated as a case of interest and a separate webpage has been created. A link has been provided for those cases where noted. For cases that do not have a webpage, please refer to PACER for case information. Cases not listed have either been closed or stayed. Please contact the MDL clerk if there has been a clerical error and an active case needs to be listed.

What is multi-district litigation?

When civil actions involving one or more common questions of fact are pending in different districts, such actions may be transferred to any district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings via a Motion to Transfer. (See 28 U.S.C. 1407) The Judicial Panel on Multi-district Litigation (JPML) makes the determination on approving the coordination of the cases as an MDL and which district the MDL will be transferred to.

When cases are transferred to the Northern District, the court will create the following case information: (1) individual member cases, which will include all the original transfer case dockets (2) a master MDL number and case title as designated by the JPML. This master MDL docket will be updated to include all party and counsel information, along with orders of the judge, party filings, and hearing and deadline information throughout the life of the MDL.

The presiding judge of the assigned MDL may permit direct filing of cases to our district. This means complaints would be submitted to our court as outlined by the presiding judge and required fees paid. The coordination of these would not be sent by JPML. Check the Judge’s Pretrial Order for clarification on this process. Our District will send communication to the JPML to notify they when direct filed cases are opened in our district.

Misconceptions about MDLs

“Among some common misconceptions about MDLs are that most are “mega-cases” and that they linger in the transferee courts for many years. To be sure, some MDLs meet the “mega-case” definition. And others, for various reasons, do remain in the transferee courts for lengthy periods of times. However, most MDLs do not fit either of these descriptions. Only thirty-seven out of about 300 active MDLs comprise more than 100 constituent actions and only ten have more than 1000. By contrast, about one-half of all open MDLs are comprised of ten or fewer actions. And, while it is true that a handful of open MDLs are quite old, there are not many, the number of their actions and claims is dwindling, and there are valid reasons for their continued existence.”

A View from the Panel: Part of the Solution John G. Heyburn II

Contact information and resource links

Local rules:  CAND     JPML
JPML Website: Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation