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Understanding multidistrict litigation
Clear, jargon-free explainers on how the federal MDL process works.
What is a multidistrict litigation (MDL)?
MDL consolidates similar federal lawsuits before a single judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings, without merging them into one case.
4 min read
MDL vs. class action: what’s the difference?
Both handle mass claims, but a class action merges claimants into one representative case while an MDL keeps each lawsuit individually intact.
3 min read
How MDLs resolve: bellwethers, settlements, and remand
Most MDLs end in a coordinated settlement; cases that don’t settle can be remanded to their home courts for trial.
3 min read
How to read an MDL docket entry
A quick guide to the fields the JPML publishes — MDL number, transferee district and judge, pending actions, and historical totals.
3 min read