Mass tort lawsuits are individual injury claims that many people bring against the same company over the same drug, device or chemical, usually coordinated in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's November 2, 2026 report lists 204,987 pending actions across 164 MDL dockets; the Johnson & Johnson talc MDL alone holds 69,376.
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Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Nov. 2, 2026: 204,987 actions were pending in 162 federal MDL dockets, according to the JPML.
- Nov. 2, 2026: The talcum powder MDL (No. 2738) was the largest federal docket, with 69,376 pending actions.
- July 21, 2026: The Depo-Provera parties signed a Master Settlement Agreement; settlement registration closes Nov. 30, 2026.
- July 27, 2026: Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion resolution of ovarian talc claims, conditioned on at least 95% participation.
- June 25, 2026: In Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, the Supreme Court held 7–2 that federal pesticide law preempted a Roundup failure-to-warn claim.
What mass tort lawsuits claim
A mass tort is a group of separate injury or wrongful-death lawsuits over the same product and the same alleged harm. Plaintiffs typically claim a manufacturer sold a defective product or failed to warn of a known risk. Unlike a class action, each plaintiff keeps an individual case and must prove their own exposure, diagnosis and damages. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the JPML can send similar federal cases to one judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings; each case must be returned to its original court when pretrial work ends unless it has been resolved.
TortAdvisor's mass tort archive is organized by litigation: Depo-Provera, PFAS, AFFF firefighting foam, Roundup, paraquat, talcum powder and Bair Hugger. Broader guides sit under dangerous drugs, medical devices and toxic exposure.
Where the litigation stands
Counts are from the JPML's November 2, 2026 report. A pending count measures caseload, not how many claims will be paid.
| Litigation | MDL, court and judge | Pending (Nov. 2, 2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talcum powder | MDL 2738, D.N.J., Judge Michael A. Shipp | 69,376 | $5.5 billion ovarian proposal (July 27, 2026); not final |
| AFFF firefighting foam | MDL 2873, D.S.C., Judge Richard M. Gergel | 15,270 | 3M $7.35 billion personal-injury agreement announced Nov. 3, 2026; other defendants not covered |
| Bair Hugger | MDL 2666, D. Minn., Judge Joan N. Ericksen | 8,414 | No settlement disclosed; Lone Pine order under consideration |
| Paraquat | MDL 3004, S.D. Ill., Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel | 6,635 | Settlement entered Aug. 4, 2025; opt-outs litigating |
| Depo-Provera | MDL 3140, N.D. Fla., Judge M. Casey Rodgers | 6,413 | Settlement signed July 21, 2026; register by Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Roundup | MDL 2741, N.D. Cal., Judge Vince Chhabria | 916 | $7.25 billion class settlement awaiting final approval |
Who may qualify
Each litigation sets its own rules, but claims generally turn on a diagnosed injury that matches the conditions at issue, documented use of or exposure to the product, and timing that fits the science and the filing deadline. Settlement programs add criteria of their own: the Depo-Provera program treats some plaintiffs as ineligible because of when they filed or when their tumor was diagnosed relative to their last injection.
Deadlines and next steps
Statutes of limitations vary by state and claim type, and many start when an injury is discovered rather than at exposure. Settlement programs add their own cut-offs: Depo-Provera registration closes November 30, 2026, and the Roundup class opt-out deadline passed June 4, 2026. The settlement amounts hub reports only published figures, and the settlement calculators explain the factors that affect value.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mass tort the same as a class action?
No. In a class action, a representative plaintiff sues for a defined group and one judgment or settlement binds the class. In a mass tort, each person files an individual lawsuit and must prove their own injury and damages, even when an MDL judge coordinates pretrial work. Some litigations use both tools: Roundup has a federal MDL and a separate proposed class settlement in Missouri state court.
How many mass tort cases are pending?
The JPML's November 2, 2026 report lists 204,987 pending actions across 162 MDL dockets, out of 717,525 actions filed in those dockets over time. Counts change monthly, and one action can include more than one plaintiff. Companies sometimes count plaintiffs instead: Johnson & Johnson reported about 76,500 U.S. talc plaintiffs as of September 27, 2026, while the talc MDL listed 69,376 actions.
Can I find out what my claim is worth?
Usually not from public records. Neither court has published a payout matrix for the Depo-Provera or paraquat settlement agreements. Where an official figure exists, such as the $6,000 to $165,000-plus range on the Roundup class settlement website, it depends on that program's criteria and on court approval. TortAdvisor's settlement amounts pages separate published figures from estimates circulated elsewhere.
Sources
- JPML – Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending (November 2, 2026)
- 28 U.S.C. § 1407 – Multidistrict litigation (statute text)
- N.D. Fla. – Case Management Order No. 12, Depo-Provera MDL 3140 (July 27, 2026)
- Johnson & Johnson – Proposed resolution of ovarian talc litigation (July 27, 2026)
- Supreme Court of the United States – Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068 (June 25, 2026)
- 3M Company – Form 10-Q, quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, Note 15 (Commitments and Contingencies)
Mass Tort questions answered, with sources
Your deadline runs even while an MDL is pending
Joining a mass tort still requires filing your own case on time. State statutes of limitations usually keep running while bellwether trials and settlement talks go on.
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