Top 5 Mass Tort Cases to Watch in 2025
Mass tort cases, which fall under broader injury claims, allow multiple people with similar injuries from the same product or incident to pursue justice together, even if they live in different parts of the state or country. These coordinated lawsuits often involve complex legal issues and can take years to resolve, but they provide an important path to compensation for injured victims.
Several significant mass tort cases are advancing through the courts in 2025.
Here are five cases that could have substantial impacts for plaintiffs and the legal community this year:
Camp Lejeune Lawsuits
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in federal court, in addition to hundreds of thousands of administrative claims filed with the Department of the Navy. Claimants allege that toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina caused numerous health problems, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer, leukemia, Parkinson’s, and bladder cancer. It was determined that from 1953 through 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune had been contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals and volatile organic compounds, including PCE (tetrachloroethylene) and TCE (trichloroethylene).
As of June 2025, settlement discussions are ongoing. A resolution in these cases could establish a framework for a broader settlement matrix for other cases.
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuits
Plaintiffs in the AFFF lawsuits allege that exposure to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) can cause specific types of cancer. The lawsuits were consolidated into an MDL in the District of South Carolina. As of January 2025, approximately 7,600 cases are pending in the multi-district litigation.
Water contamination settlements have occurred, which may signal settlements in the cancer cases. There is speculation that a global settlement may be possible in 2025, but it remains to be seen. The next steps would include scheduling bellwether trials to begin trying individual cases.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
With over 58,000 cases pending in the mass tort against Johnson & Johnson, the talcum powder MDL remains one of the largest mass torts in history. Lawsuits allege that the talc in baby powder caused cancer.
There has been some movement toward a global settlement, but Johnson & Johnson has dragged out the process by filing for bankruptcy. J&J wants to resolve the claims through the bankruptcy court. On April 1, 2025, the bankruptcy court rejected a third attempt to settle.
The litigation is now proceeding again and should be closely monitored for potential settlements or trials in 2025.
Ozempic and GLP-1 Agonists Lawsuits
The number of lawsuits against manufacturers of Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and other GLP-1 medications is increasing. Plaintiffs allege that the popular diabetes and weight loss injections can cause gastroparesis, intestinal blockages, and other severe gastrointestinal conditions. The lawsuits allege that manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of using these medications.
GLP-1 product liability litigation cases have been consolidated into MDL 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The parties are currently engaged in discovery, so the litigation remains in its early stages. Upcoming hearings and status conferences are scheduled related to various issues within the case, including hearings to evaluate the scientific evidence establishing a potential link between gastrointestinal injuries and GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Paragard IUD
The Paragard IUD lawsuits were combined into an MDL in the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuits allege that a defect caused the device to break during removal of the device, leaving pieces embedded in the uterus. The defect can result in infection, chronic pain, organ perforation, surgical retrieval, and infertility.
Bellwether trials are expected to begin in early 2026. The Paragard IUD lawsuits have moved very slowly through litigation, which could continue throughout the remainder of the year.
Other Mass Tort Cases to Watch in 2025
Other mass tort cases worth watching in 2025 include, but are not limited to:
- Roundup lawsuits against Bayer alleging exposure to the chemical causes various types of cancer
- Paraquat lawsuits allege that chronic exposure to the herbicide causes Parkinson’s disease
- Tepezza lawsuits allege that patients receiving the Tepezza injections to treat thyroid eye disease have sustained permanent hearing loss
- Hair relaxer cancer lawsuits allege that the chemicals in the product increase the risk of uterine cancer
- Suboxone lawsuits allege that the drug can cause severe tooth loss, tooth decay, and other dental problems
- Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer allege patients have developed intracranial meningiomas after long-term use of the injectable contraceptive
- Elmiron lawsuits allege that patients have developed permanent vision problems after long-term use of the medication, which is generally prescribed to treat interstitial cystitis
- Valsartan lawsuits allege that batches of the medication were contaminated with NDMA (a carcinogen) during the manufacturing process, resulting in patients developing gastric cancer and liver damage
- Bart Power Port lawsuits allege that a defect in the port catheter implant increased the chance of migration and fracturing, resulting in severe injuries
If you have questions about a claim for a dangerous medication, defective medical device, or other defective product, contact a mass torts injury lawyer for a free consultation. An attorney can explain your legal options for seeking compensation for injuries and damages.