A mass tort is a civil action generally involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few corporate defendants in state or federal court. In this regard, mass tort litigation involves a large number or group of tort claims with a common cause that have injured many victims. Examples include environmental contamination at a single site or property, a defective product that injures many people, and single-accident disasters. In each instance, mass tort litigation is complex.
If you were harmed by a situation or condition that also affected other people, contact the attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald S. Ohn, APC. Mr. Ohn is a lawyer with substantial experience in the prosecution and defense of complex litigation, including in the area of mass torts. If you and other men, women, or children have been injured from the same cause, a Los Angeles mass torts lawyer will be driven to aggressively pursue your mass or group tort claims. Furthermore, we are keenly aware of the stress and strains of litigation on parties, and so we take pride in providing personal attention so you are properly informed throughout our representation.
If you are a corporate or government entity defendant in a mass tort action, we will be committed to zealously protecting your interests. In this regard, the Law Offices of Gerald S. Ohn, APC will work with you to develop a litigation strategy that takes your legal and corporate organizational needs into account. We also welcome co-counsel relationships in connection with mass tort litigation. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
A mass tort is a group of civil lawsuits arising out of the same situation or event. You have the right to bring a lawsuit claiming financial damages if you can establish that another party was negligent and their negligence caused your injury. You may need to hire investigators and other outside experts to find evidence of negligence, and in complex cases, an individual lawsuit might not be cost-effective for an individual or efficient for the courts
When numerous people are harmed by the same situation or event, 28 United States Code § 1407 allows courts to consolidate cases. The process is called mass tort or sometimes multi-district litigation (MDL).
In a mass tort case, all the plaintiffs file individual lawsuits, but one case, or sometimes several cases, are designated bellwether cases. The bellwether cases go to trial, while the others do not. The plaintiffs pool resources to find the evidence of negligence necessary to win the bellwether case.
If the bellwether case is successful, the defendant typically settles all the pending cases. The proceeds are then distributed between all the participating plaintiffs based on their individual proof of damages. Our attorneys have significant experience working with Los Angeles plaintiffs in mass tort cases and securing appropriate compensation for their losses.
Damages in a mass tort case are similar to those in any injury case. You can claim medical expenses, lost wages, and incidental expenses. If you suffer permanent or long-term harm, you can claim your future anticipated medical expenses and lost future earnings. You must prove these damages with receipts, tax returns, invoices, and similar documentation.
You could also seek compensation for non-economic losses, sometimes called pain and suffering damages. Depending on the circumstances, your non-economic damages claim may include:
Our Los Angeles mass tort attorneys may use your testimony, medical records, photographs, and other evidence to prove your non-economic damages.
In a mass tort case, your attorney submits your proof of damages to the defendant and court handling the case. If the defendant is found liable for damages, your payment will reflect the damages you prove.
The mass tort attorneys at the Law Offices of Gerald S. Ohn, APC frequently represent Los Angeles tenants in cases regarding the habitability of their homes. California Civil Code § 1941 requires landlords to keep their premises safe for habitation. Tenants can sue if a property is unsafe or uninhabitable due to:
Tenants can also sue a landlord if they have notice of uninhabitable conditions and do not correct them. If multiple tenants sue a landlord because of issues regarding the habitability of your building, the court may consolidate the individual claims into a mass tort action.
Damages in habitability mass torts may include moving expenses, rent paid for an uninhabitable unit, and property damage due to the uninhabitable conditions. If the landlord is found liable, they may be subject to penalties and may have to pay your attorney’s fees.
The Los Angeles attorneys at the Law Offices of Gerald S. Ohn, APC are prosecuting a mass tort lawsuit seeking justice on behalf of 52 women, children, and men subjected to allegedly uninhabitable conditions at an apartment complex in Los Angeles County.
For dedicated legal counsel from a Los Angeles mass torts lawyer, reach out to the Law Offices of Gerald S. Ohn, APC today. Our attorneys provide comprehensive legal guidance to individuals facing complicated litigation matters and look forward to hearing from you.