Mass Torts: Fighting For Justice, One Case At A Time

At Hanna Vander Ploeg, LLC, we’re not just lawyers; we’re your advocates in the fight for justice. We focus on mass tort cases, where a common product or action has harmed a large group of people. We’re here to level the playing field and hold corporations accountable.

What Is A Mass Tort?

A mass tort occurs when a significant number of individuals suffer injuries or damages from the same product, medication, medical device or corporate misconduct. Unlike class actions, where plaintiffs share identical circumstances, mass torts maintain individual claims while sharing investigative resources and evidence. Each person’s case remains distinct, recognizing varying degrees of harm, unique medical histories and specific damages.

These cases emerge when corporations release defective products, fail to disclose known risks or engage in negligent practices affecting large populations. Typical scenarios include:

• Pharmaceutical drug cases: Medications causing severe side effects or complications not disclosed by manufacturers
• Medical device failures: Implants, surgical tools or monitoring equipment that malfunctions often involve analyzing device design, manufacturing processes and documented patterns of failure across patient populations
• Toxic exposure: Industrial chemicals, pesticides or pollutants affecting communities through contamination, with claims often crossing multiple jurisdictions, requiring environmental testing and long-term health impact studies
• Consumer product defects: Widespread harm from products like talcum powder or herbicides
• Environmental disasters: Large-scale contamination events affecting communities, requiring evidence of corporate negligence and documented health effects

The complexity of mass torts involves case management across multiple jurisdictions, proving causation at general and specific levels and coordinating shared resources while maintaining individual claim integrity. This approach allows efficient handling of numerous claims while preserving each plaintiff’s right to individual compensation.

How Does A Mass Tort Work?

The mass tort process begins with identifying patterns of harm and establishing clear links between products or corporate actions and widespread injuries. When similar cases appear across multiple jurisdictions, they are often consolidated through multidistrict litigation (MDL). This brings cases to a single federal court for pretrial proceedings, creating efficiency in discovery and consistent legal rulings. Key elements of mass tort litigation include:

• Centralized evidence gathering focused on product development, testing and corporate decision-making.
• Scientific research and studies demonstrating causation.
• Medical records analysis establishing injury patterns.
• Documentation of internal corporate communications about product risks.
• Coordination among multiple law firms representing different plaintiff groups.
• Selection of representative “bellwether” cases for initial trials.

Bellwether trials serve as test cases, helping establish claim values and guiding settlement discussions. Throughout litigation, each plaintiff maintains control over their individual case, including the right to accept or reject settlement offers. Courts manage these complex proceedings through structured schedules, coordinated discovery and uniform procedures while preserving individual plaintiff rights to compensation based on their specific circumstances and damages.

Why Choose Us?

Our firm is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation to clients whom mass torts have harmed. We offer a unique combination of experience, resources and compassion that sets us apart from other law firms.

• Experience: Our seasoned attorneys have a proven track record of success in complex mass tort litigation. We’ve been there, we’ve seen it all and we know how to win.
• Resources: We have the resources and experience to take on even the biggest corporations. Our team of investigators and legal professionals are dedicated to uncovering the truth and building strong cases.
• Compassion: We understand the physical, emotional and financial toll mass torts can take on individuals and families. We’re committed to providing compassionate and personalized legal representation.

We are committed to fighting for our client’s rights and holding corporations accountable for their actions. If you have been harmed by a mass tort, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation.

Our Areas Of Experience

We handle a wide range of mass tort cases, focusing on seeking justice for those whom the negligence of others has harmed. Here are some of the areas where we have extensive experience:

• NEC baby formula: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal condition primarily affecting premature infants. It can lead to serious complications, including surgery, long-term health issues and even death. We represent families of infants who developed NEC after being fed cow’s milk-based baby formulas, like Similac and Enfamil. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the increased risk of NEC associated with their products, especially for premature babies.
• Sexual abuse: We believe in providing a voice to the voiceless and fighting for those who have been wronged. We represent victims of sexual abuse, including those who were abused by clergy members or at state-run juvenile facilities.
• Paraquat: This is a weed killer that has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Many individuals exposed to this harmful chemical have developed debilitating conditions.
• Hair straightener: Some hair straighteners have been linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer. Women who have used these products and developed cancer deserve justice.
• Makeup: Certain makeup products have been linked to skin cancer and other health problems. The beauty industry should be held responsible for the safety of its products.

We are committed to holding cosmetic companies accountable for the harm caused by their products.

Ready To Take Action?

If a defective product or corporate negligence has harmed you or a loved one, don’t wait. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case and discuss your legal options. Together, we can fight for the justice you deserve. Call 312-883-7623 or contact us online to make an appointment.