a mass tort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mass tort" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to a situation where many individuals bring a lawsuit against one or a few defendants for similar grievances. Example: "The company faced a mass tort lawsuit due to the harmful effects of its product on consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"It was not a mass tort.

The New York Times

As the term implies, a key to influence in a mass tort is achieving mass.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I mean, thirty-three hundred deandand injured is almost quantitatively not a mass tort," he observed.

The New Yorker

Now, they say, the tobacco wars and other legal battleshave taught that the most effective lever against corporate misconduct is the threat of court-ordered damage awards only a mass tort case can bring.

The New York Times

Asked whether he had experience in the arcane maritime law involved in the spill, Stephen A. Sheller, a mass tort specialist from Philadelphia, said, "I go on a cruise boat occasionally".

The New York Times

Less than three months earlier, some six hundred Ramapoughs, represented by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., among others, had filed a mass tort suit against Ford Motor Company and its contractors, as well as the borough of Ringwood, for the dumping of toxic waste.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Even though BP is the fund's sole contributor so far, it may still be in its interest that the other companies linked to the spill be protected from claims because they could in turn try to sue BP for payment, said Richard Nagareda, a mass torts expert and law professor at Vanderbilt University.

The New York Times

"Although he had a very difficult time placing a dollar value on human life, in some way that was a more straightforward job than estimating the long-term harm to a shrimper's business," said Richard A. Nagareda, a mass torts expert and law professor at Vanderbilt University.

The New York Times

In 2009, I wrote an article suggesting that public and private actors could use the courts to help to remedy the worst abuses of the financial crisis by using a "mass torts" model of litigation--one in which sweeping claims are litigated and then resolved through broad and far-reaching settlements.

Huffington Post

The goals of such litigation often vary, but by using a mass torts approach, plaintiffs and defendants alike are typically able to produce meaningful relief to victims and bring about financial peace for defendants, without resorting to unpredictable, costly and time-consuming adjudication by trial of every individual claim.

Huffington Post

Buzbee has played a central role in some MDL litigation, notably on behalf of hurricane victims housed in substandard FEMA trailers, but he is not really a mass-tort lawyer and, unlike many of the trial lawyers in Boise, not a political animal.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider if "a mass tort" is the right term in your writing. If you're describing the legal process or the group involved, "mass tort litigation" or "group tort claim" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Don't use "a mass tort" interchangeably with "a class action lawsuit". A mass tort involves individual lawsuits consolidated for efficiency, while a class action consolidates all claims into a single suit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mass tort" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific type of legal action involving numerous plaintiffs and a common cause. Ludwig confirms its use in various contexts, including legal discussions and news reports.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mass tort" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that refers to a specific type of legal action involving numerous plaintiffs and a common cause. Ludwig AI identifies its primary context as News & Media, with a neutral to professional register. It's important not to confuse it with a class action lawsuit. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in legal and journalistic contexts, making it a reliable term for discussing such cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mass tort litigation

Focuses on the legal process rather than the event itself.

collective tort action

Emphasizes the collective nature of the legal claim.

group tort claim

Highlights the group of plaintiffs making a claim.

mass tort case

Simply uses a different term to describe the same event.

aggregated tort lawsuit

Uses more formal language to describe the aggregation of claims.

multiple plaintiff tort

Highlights the presence of multiple plaintiffs.

large-scale tort

Focuses on the scale of the tort.

complex tort litigation

Emphasizes the complexity of the legal proceedings.

multi-party tort action

Stresses the multiple parties involved.

class action lawsuit

This alternative refers to the legal procedure not the harmful event.

FAQs

How is "a mass tort" different from a class action lawsuit?

In "a mass tort", individual lawsuits are consolidated for efficiency, whereas a class action consolidates all claims into a single lawsuit. This distinction affects how damages are awarded and how individual plaintiffs are represented.

When is it appropriate to use the term "a mass tort"?

Use "a mass tort" when describing a situation where numerous individuals have been harmed by the same defendant but are pursuing individual, rather than collective, legal action.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a mass tort"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "mass tort litigation", "collective tort action", or "group tort claim".

Where can I find examples of "a mass tort" in legal news?

Legal publications and news sources like The New York Times and Forbes often report on cases involving mass torts. Searching these sites for "mass tort litigation" or related terms will yield relevant examples.