Multidistrict Litigation

Multidistrict litigation is litigation pending in more than one federal district court involving common questions of fact. When such cases involve civil actions, they may be transferred by the Judicial Panel on multidistrict litigation (The Panel) to any federal court for coordinated and consolidated pretrial proceedings. The Panel on multidistrict litigation is a group of seven federal judges designated by the Chief Justice of the United States. The Panel has the responsibility for determining which cases qualify for multidistrict litigation treatment, as well as which district court to transfer and consolidate these cases.

Proceedings for transfer may be initiated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation upon its own initiative or a motion filed with the Panel by a party in any action in which transfer for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings may be appropriate. Before cases are designated as multidistrict litigation and transferred to one federal court, the Panel convenes a hearing and notifies all parties of the place and time of the hearing. The Panel's order of transfer is based on a record of such hearing at which material evidence may be offered by any party to an action in any federal court that would be affected by the transfer.

With an office in Washington, D. C., where The Panel is located, the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (SHB) has extensive experience with multidistrict litigation. SHB complex litigation attorneys in our Class Actions & Complex Litigation Group have the expertise to defend complex litigation in state and federal courts, as well as those consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. We have handled claims pertaining to products liability, environmental actions, consumer fraud, antitrust cases, employment discrimination, RICO, medical monitoring, personal injury, and wage-and-hour disputes. In this capacity, the firm’s trial teams have successfully opposed motions to certify classes in nearly 50 separate cases. We also have obtained dismissals, favorable settlements and defense verdicts in dozens of putative or certified class actions.

To learn more about our multidistrict litigation capabilities, contact us today.