Multidistrict Litigation Definition

A type of civil procedure that consolidates federal cases that share common questions of fact from federal district courts around the country into one federal district court for pre-trial proceedings. Each lawsuit in multidistrict litigation (MDL) remains separate, but discovery, motions, and settlement negotiations happen in front of one judge at the same time. The goal of consolidation is to save time and money and encourage settlement. Common types of multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases include product liability and toxic torts.

Many states have a process similar to MDL. For example, California's version of MDL is called "civil case coordination." New Jersey's version is called "multicounty litigation."