Multidistrict litigation (MDL)
Multidistrict litigation (MDL) groups related federal lawsuits from different courts before one judge, who handles shared pretrial work such as discovery.
Also called: MDL, multi-district litigation, MDL proceeding, JPML
Multidistrict litigation (MDL) groups related federal lawsuits from different courts before one judge, who handles shared pretrial work such as discovery.
What it means
Multidistrict litigation, or MDL, is a federal system for handling many related lawsuits filed in different courts around the country. A special body, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, can transfer the cases to one district court for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.
The law behind it is 28 U.S.C. § 1407. The Panel looks for cases that share common questions of fact. It transfers them if that would serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the cases. One judge then handles shared work such as document discovery and many pretrial rulings, which avoids repeated effort and conflicting orders.
An MDL is not a class action. The cases keep their own identities, and an MDL can include class actions, individual injury lawsuits, or both. Cases that aren't resolved in the MDL go back to the courts where they were filed. MDL is a federal system, and state courts have their own ways of coordinating related cases.
What it means for you
If your settlement notice names an MDL, the case title usually starts with "In re" and the notice may list an MDL number. Being in an MDL doesn't tell you whether you are a class member. Some MDL settlements are class settlements, with a claim form, an administrator and a deadline. Others are private programs for people who already hired a lawyer and filed a case. The notice, not the MDL label, tells you which kind it is and what to do by when. Always use the settlement website named in the court-approved notice.
Example
Say a popular kitchen appliance is linked to burn injuries, and hundreds of customers sue in courts across the country. The Panel moves all the federal cases to one court, where one judge manages document exchange and pretrial rulings. Later, the company announces a settlement program for people with injuries. Separately, customers who only overpaid may be part of a class settlement in the same MDL.
FAQ
No. An MDL coordinates separate federal cases before one judge. Those cases can include class actions, individual injury lawsuits, or both, and each case keeps its own identity.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which has seven federal judges chosen by the Chief Justice of the United States. It decides whether cases share common questions of fact and where they should be handled.
Related terms
- 28 U.S.C. § 1407, multidistrict litigation (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
- About the Panel (Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, U.S. Courts)
- Managing Related Proposed Class Actions in Multidistrict Litigation (Federal Judicial Center, 2018)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.