Mass Torts Committee

Mission

This Committee was created to address both current and emerging issues that arise in a broad spectrum of substantive areas, where the common denominators are the large number of plaintiffs asserting the claims, and the type of claims being a tort in the broadest sense of the word. Thus, this Committee focuses on the substantive and procedural developments in the case law, proposed reforms, and best practice techniques in cases that may involve environmental, toxic torts, pharmaceutical, various types of products liability litigation, aviation, antitrust, securities litigation, and employment claims.

The Committee is also dealing with the management aspects of mass tort litigation, including class action issues, joinder of multiple parties, and the use of ADR in such a context. Every effort is made to have an ecumenical membership that includes demographic diversity as well as representation among the plaintiff’s bar, the defense bar, academia, and in-house counsel. The Committee has established subcommittees to provide a variety of benefits to its members, which includes programming at the Litigation Section’s Annual Conference and the ABA’s Annual Meeting, as well as co-sponsorship of an annual two-day joint CLE seminar with the Products Liability and Environmental Litigation Committees.

Join this Committee

Announcements

Upcoming Events

Take a look at the committee's calendar of upcoming events for the dates, times, and locations of upcoming committee events, conference calls, and meetings.

Message from the Chairs

It has been a busy spring!

We had a strong turnout at the Section Annual Conference in Chicago at which we held a members dinner followed the next day by a committee meeting and lunch. The Mass Disaster Crisis Response and Litigation programs that our committee co-sponsored at SAC were exceptional.

We also co-sponsored the Seventh Annual Chemical Products and Toxic Torts Regional CLE Seminar this month in New York. The program was excellent and featured several great speakers on developments in hydraulic-fracturing litigation and asbestos litigation. The seminar closed with the Honorable Alvin K. Hellerstein discussing his experiences over the past several years managing the 9/11 litigation. Many thanks to Andrew Scholz and Paul Majkowski for all of their hard work on this interesting and informative program. Thanks also to Paul's firm, Rivkin Radler LLP, for sponsoring the breakfast for the event.

National Institutes Aviation Litigation Seminar—New York, June 6, 2013
Registration is open for the annual Aviation Litigation Seminar scheduled for June 6, 2013, at the University Club in midtown Manhattan. This year's program will feature an aviation products liability mock trial with a live jury. Register now!

ABA Annual Meeting—August 8–13, 2013
Registration is also open for the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, August 8–13, 2013. Visit the ABA homepage for additional information.

* * *

Remember to monitor the Mass Torts webpage for the latest News and Developments pieces and our new Sound Advice podcast on U.S. trade sanctions laws and how they can impact a mass-disaster case.

We also encourage all committee members to get involved by participating in our monthly conference calls and submitting articles for publication in the Mass Torts Litigation newsletter and on the Mass Torts webpage.

Our committee calls are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. ET. The call-in number is (866) 646-6488 and the passcode is 9968159017.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Your Mass Torts Litigation Committee cochairs,

Deborah Elsasser

Eric Hudson

Beatrice O’Donnell