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Mass Tort and MDL Statistics (2026)
Published November 10, 2026 by VictimAid.com, the research and consumer information site of the Law Offices of Jason Turchin. Reviewed by attorney Jason Turchin. Part of the VictimAid.com Injury Data Center.
When many people are hurt by the same product or the same company, federal courts often combine their cases into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL) in front of one judge. The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 analyzes the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s pending docket reports and annual statistics, with a focus on product liability and sexual assault MDLs.
94%
Of all pending federal MDL cases are in product liability MDLs
4,894
Pending Uber, Lyft and Roblox sexual assault cases
331
New cases in the Uber MDL in 33 days
Key MDL and mass tort statistics
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that product liability MDLs held 94% of all cases pending in federal multidistrict litigation (192,742 of 204,987) as of November 2, 2026, even though they made up 40% of the 164 active MDLs.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder MDL alone accounted for 69,376 pending cases, 34% of every case pending in any federal MDL.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the ten largest product liability MDLs held 85% of all pending product liability MDL cases.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that three federal MDLs over sexual assault and exploitation, against Uber, Lyft and Roblox, had 4,894 pending cases as of November 2, 2026.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that 331 new cases joined the Uber passenger sexual assault MDL in the 33 days between September 30 and November 2, 2026, raising the total filed to 5,552.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL added more pending cases than any other product liability MDL over the same period, 485, to reach 4,309.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Depo-Provera brain tumor MDL in Pensacola, with 6,413 pending cases, is the ninth-largest product liability MDL in the country and the largest in Florida.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the 3M Combat Arms earplug MDL, also overseen in Pensacola, accounts for 55% of the 717,515 cases ever filed in the federal MDLs active on September 30, 2026.
- The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that only 1,300 cases were transferred into existing MDLs as tag-along actions in 2025, the fewest since 1991.
Federal MDLs at a glance
| As of November 2, 2026 | MDLs | Pending cases | Share of pending cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| All active MDLs | 164 | 204,987 | 100% |
| Product liability MDLs | 66 | 192,742 | 94.0% |
| Sexual assault and exploitation MDLs | 3 | 4,894 | 2.4% |
| All other MDLs (antitrust, data breach, securities and more) | 95 | 7,351 | 3.6% |
Source: JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by District, November 2, 2026. A “case” is a civil action; one action can include more than one plaintiff.
Largest product liability MDLs
The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder MDL alone accounted for 69,376 pending cases, 34% of every case pending in any federal MDL. The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the ten largest product liability MDLs held 85% of all pending product liability MDL cases.
Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products
69,376
Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh
23,299
Aqueous Film-Forming Foams
15,270
Hair Relaxer
12,743
Proton-Pump Inhibitor
11,404
Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Devices
8,414
Paraquat
6,635
Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters
6,467
Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)
6,413
Bard Implanted Port Catheter
4,345
| Rank | MDL | Court | Pending cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products (MDL 2738) | D.N.J. | 69,376 |
| 2 | Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh (MDL 2846) | S.D. Ohio | 23,299 |
| 3 | Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (MDL 2873) | D.S.C. | 15,270 |
| 4 | Hair Relaxer (MDL 3060) | N.D. Ill. | 12,743 |
| 5 | Proton-Pump Inhibitor (MDL 2789) | D.N.J. | 11,404 |
| 6 | Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Devices (MDL 2666) | D. Minn. | 8,414 |
| 7 | Paraquat (MDL 3004) | S.D. Ill. | 6,635 |
| 8 | Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters (MDL 2570) | S.D. Ind. | 6,467 |
| 9 | Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) (MDL 3140) | N.D. Fla. | 6,413 |
| 10 | Bard Implanted Port Catheter (MDL 3081) | D. Ariz. | 4,345 |
Product liability MDLs by type of product
Consumer and personal care products, led by talc and hair relaxers, account for the most pending cases. Medical devices make up the largest number of separate MDLs.
| Product type | MDLs | Pending cases | Share of product liability cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer, personal care and food products | 13 | 87,804 | 46% |
| Medical devices and implants | 21 | 53,787 | 28% |
| Prescription drugs and vaccines | 19 | 27,798 | 14% |
| Chemical and environmental exposure | 5 | 22,842 | 12% |
| Vehicles and auto parts | 8 | 511 | 0.3% |
Consumer, personal care and food products
87,804
Medical devices and implants
53,787
Prescription drugs and vaccines
27,798
Chemical and environmental exposure
22,842
Vehicles and auto parts
511
Product types assigned by VictimAid.com from each MDL’s title.
Sexual assault MDLs: Uber, Lyft and Roblox
The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that three federal MDLs over sexual assault and exploitation, against Uber, Lyft and Roblox, had 4,894 pending cases as of November 2, 2026. The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that 331 new cases joined the Uber passenger sexual assault MDL in the 33 days between September 30 and November 2, 2026, raising the total filed to 5,552.
Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault
4,548
Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault
196
Lyft, Inc. Passenger Sexual Assault
150
| Litigation | Judge | Pending cases, Nov 2 | Total filed, Sep 30 | Total filed, Nov 2 | New in 33 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault (MDL 3084) | Charles R. Breyer | 4,548 | 5,221 | 5,552 | 331 |
| Lyft, Inc. Passenger Sexual Assault (MDL 3171) | Rita F. Lin | 150 | 148 | 164 | 16 |
| Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault (MDL 3166) | Richard Seeborg | 196 | 190 | 207 | 17 |
All three MDLs are in the Northern District of California. “Total filed” counts every case ever transferred into or filed in the MDL. Pending cases can fall while total filings rise, because cases are dismissed, resolved or sent back to their original courts.
MDLs adding the most cases, September 30 to November 2, 2026
The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL added more pending cases than any other product liability MDL over the same period, 485, to reach 4,309.
| MDL | Pending Sep 30 | Pending Nov 2 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury (MDL 3047) | 3,824 | 4,309 | +485 |
| Hair Relaxer (MDL 3060) | 12,373 | 12,743 | +370 |
| Bard Implanted Port Catheter (MDL 3081) | 4,140 | 4,345 | +205 |
| Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (MDL 3094) | 4,025 | 4,082 | +57 |
| Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products (MDL 2738) | 69,340 | 69,376 | +36 |
| Paraquat (MDL 3004) | 6,602 | 6,635 | +33 |
New product liability MDLs since September 30, 2026
- Nevro Corporation Spinal Cord Stimulator (MDL 3195), N.D. Cal.: 24 pending cases
- Apple Airtag (MDL 3199), N.D. Cal.: 29 pending cases
- Abbott Laboratories Spinal Cord Stimulator (MDL 3194), N.D. Ill.: 27 pending cases
MDLs in Florida federal courts
The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the Depo-Provera brain tumor MDL in Pensacola, with 6,413 pending cases, is the ninth-largest product liability MDL in the country and the largest in Florida. The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that the 3M Combat Arms earplug MDL, also overseen in Pensacola, accounts for 55% of the 717,515 cases ever filed in the federal MDLs active on September 30, 2026. Florida’s three federal districts host 10 active MDLs with 7,400 pending cases.
| MDL | Court | Judge | Pending cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) (MDL 3140) | N.D. Fla. | M. Casey Rodgers | 6,413 |
| Zantac (Ranitidine) (MDL 2924) | S.D. Fla. | Robin L. Rosenberg | 806 |
| Takata Airbag (MDL 2599) | S.D. Fla. | Federico A. Moreno | 78 |
| FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange Collapse (MDL 3076) | S.D. Fla. | K. Michael Moore | 37 |
| Tasigna (Nilotinib) (MDL 3006) | M.D. Fla. | Roy B. Dalton, Jr | 36 |
| MONAT Hair Care Products (MDL 2841) | S.D. Fla. | Darrin P. Gayles | 13 |
| Health Gorilla, Inc., et al., Data Security Breach (MDL 3193) | S.D. Fla. | K. Michael Moore | 10 |
| Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Alien Tort Statute and Shareholders Derivative (MDL 1916) | S.D. Fla. | Roy K. Altman | 5 |
| 3M Combat Arms Earplug (MDL 2885) | N.D. Fla. | M. Casey Rodgers | 2 |
| Johnson & Johnson Sunscreen (MDL 3015) | S.D. Fla. | Raag Singhal | 0 |
Which courts handle the most MDL cases
| Court | Product liability MDLs | Pending product liability cases |
|---|---|---|
| D.N.J. | 7 | 84,355 |
| S.D. Ohio | 1 | 23,299 |
| D.S.C. | 1 | 15,270 |
| N.D. Ill. | 5 | 13,901 |
| D. Minn. | 3 | 8,437 |
| S.D. Ill. | 1 | 6,635 |
| S.D. Ind. | 1 | 6,467 |
| N.D. Fla. | 2 | 6,415 |
How the JPML is ruling: new MDL requests, 2016 to 2025
2,914
3,025
4,633
6,103
3,114
2,831
2,694
2,079
1,659
1,300
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
The VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026 found that only 1,300 cases were transferred into existing MDLs as tag-along actions in 2025, the fewest since 1991. The Panel granted 21 motions to create a new MDL in 2025, and denied or otherwise closed 16.
| Year | Motions to centralize filed | Granted | Denied, moot or withdrawn | Tag-along cases transferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | 21 | 16 | 1,300 |
| 2024 | 46 | 24 | 19 | 1,659 |
| 2023 | 29 | 20 | 12 | 2,079 |
| 2022 | 45 | 22 | 17 | 2,694 |
| 2021 | 40 | 19 | 23 | 2,831 |
| 2020 | 53 | 26 | 29 | 3,114 |
| 2019 | 48 | 21 | 28 | 6,103 |
| 2018 | 56 | 28 | 37 | 4,633 |
| 2017 | 59 | 19 | 33 | 3,025 |
| 2016 | 73 | 26 | 53 | 2,914 |
Pending MDLs by type, December 31, 2025
Using the Panel’s own categories, product liability made up 61 of 158 pending MDLs (39%) at the end of 2025, more than any other type.
| Type (JPML category) | Pending MDLs |
|---|---|
| Products Liability | 61 |
| Antitrust | 36 |
| Data Breach and Consumer Privacy | 20 |
| Miscellaneous | 15 |
| Intellectual Property | 10 |
| Sales Practices | 8 |
| Common Disaster | 3 |
| Securities | 3 |
| Employment Practices | 1 |
| Air Disaster | 1 |
Methodology
VictimAid.com converted the JPML’s Pending MDL Dockets reports into tables and checked them against the Panel’s report totals (164 dockets and 204,987 pending actions on November 2, 2026; 162 dockets and 204,967 pending actions on September 30, 2026). “Product liability MDLs” are dockets with “Products Liability” in the official title; the Panel’s own category count differs slightly because it files some of these, such as vehicle sales practice cases, under other types. Sexual assault MDLs are the three dockets whose titles name sexual assault or exploitation. Growth compares the same docket across the two reports. Historical totals for most dockets come from the September 30 report because the November 2 report cuts off that column for longer entries.
Sources
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, MDL Statistics Report: Distribution of Pending MDL Dockets by District, November 2, 2026, jpml.uscourts.gov.
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Distribution of Pending MDL Dockets by Circuit, September 30, 2026.
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Calendar Year Statistics, January through December 2025 and 2023.
How to cite this research
VictimAid.com Mass Tort MDL Report 2026, VictimAid.com / Law Offices of Jason Turchin, November 10, 2026. https://www.victimaid.com/statistics/mdl-mass-tort-statistics/You may quote, chart or republish these figures with attribution and a link to this page. Reporters can request the underlying aggregated data or attorney commentary at jst@jasonturchin.com.
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This page presents aggregated public data for research and informational purposes. It is not legal advice and does not describe any client matter or result. Figures reflect the source records as published by the agencies named above and may change as those agencies update their data.
