What is a Mass action lawsuit?

[GW]

As opposed to class action?

[Fjold]

Maybe one started by Teddy Kennedy?

(Let me know if you figure out both puns there)

[Librarian]

Maybe something like this?Mass Torts

In the past decade however, so-called Mass Torts cases have turned the tables. Mass Torts occur when a large number of people have been similarly injured. Examples of mass torts include major multi-party lawsuits involving faulty products such as silicone breast implants, tobacco, or pharmaceutical cases.

When a widely used product is identified as potentially harmful, as happened with Pondimin and Redux in 1997, organized groups of plaintiffs' lawyers rapidly inundate the manufacturer with lawsuits, loading the dockets of federal and state courthouses around the country. Cases are filed in several hostile state court jurisdictions, such as West Virginia, Texas and the notorious Jefferson County Mississippi.

Joinder

Under Rule 20 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, suits raising similar issues of fact and law, even those from out of state, can be joined. ("Mass Action"). Under Rule 20, which has been upheld by the state Supreme Court, a local plaintiff is needed to file a suit in the jurisdiction and a local defendant is necessary to keep that suit against a big corporation from being removed to federal court. Mississippi doesn't have class actions; each plaintiff sues individually.

[GW]

Is this then a tactic that might get our receivers back from the DOJ?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Maybe one started by Teddy Kennedy?

(Let me know if you figure out both puns there)

First pun is easy: Mass-a-choo-sits

Second pun: could it be the massive amount of mass that makes up Senator Kennedy?

[PanzerAce]

Class (I think) is when ANYBODY affected, even those that dont help with the lawsuit, receive part of the settlment or are included in teh decision. Mass I assume would just be ALOT of parties involved, but not everyone that might be affected.

[kantstudien]

Lawsuits started by bodybuilders? :confused:

[downey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action#Class_actions_vs._mass_actions


learn something new everyday, oddly enough i just recently got my check from the verizon lawsuit regarding their bluetooth issues.