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You Have Rights.
We Help You Understand Them.

Knowing My Rights is an independent education platform. We are not a law firm. We don't have attorneys. We can't evaluate your case. What we can do is give you the information to make your own decisions — and help you find a qualified attorney who can.

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Each section explains what the law provides, how the process works, and what to look for in an attorney — in plain language, with no sales pitch.

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Class Action Lawsuits

Harmed by a drug, medical device, or toxic chemical? Thousands of others may have been too. Learn about ongoing litigation and whether you may qualify.

Explore class action lawsuits →
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Personal Injury

Auto accidents, workplace injuries, slip-and-falls, medical malpractice. Understand what compensation you may be entitled to and how claims work.

Explore personal injury →
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Family Law

Divorce, child custody, support obligations, and prenuptial agreements. Know your rights and what to expect from the process.

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Probate & Estate

Wills, trusts, estate disputes, guardianship, and inheritance. Understand the probate process and when you need legal help.

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Browse our educational content organized by practice area. Every article uses publicly available government and court data, explained in plain language.

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Important: Knowing My Rights is an independent informational resource. We are not a law firm, do not employ attorneys, and nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. Using our matching service does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Class Action Lawsuits & Mass Torts: What You Need to Know

When a drug, medical device, or chemical harms a large number of people, the federal court system consolidates related lawsuits into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). Here's what that means for you.

197K+
Pending MDL cases
725K+
Total cases filed
71%
Of federal civil cases are MDLs

Mass tort litigation exists because it would be impractical for each person harmed by the same product to litigate separately. The JPML consolidates similar cases before a single judge for pretrial proceedings — discovery, motions, and often settlement negotiations.

Unlike class actions, mass torts preserve your individual claim. Your specific injuries, medical costs, and damages are evaluated on their own merits. Two people in the same tort can receive very different outcomes based on the severity of their individual harm.

Time matters. Every state has a statute of limitations — a legal deadline after which you can no longer file. For most product liability cases, this is 2-3 years from the date of injury or discovery. Consult an attorney sooner rather than later.

Dangerous Drugs

Talcum Powder

67,000+ pending cases. Ovarian cancer, mesothelioma.

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Hair Relaxer

10,000+ pending. Uterine cancer, endometriosis.

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Ozempic / GLP-1

Gastroparesis, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction.

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Depo-Provera

Brain tumors (meningiomas). Cases actively filing.

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Prenatal Tylenol

1,300+ pending. Autism/ADHD link in children.

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Defective Medical Devices

Hernia Mesh

24,000+ pending. Mesh degradation, organ perforation.

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Paragard IUD

3,800+ pending. Device breakage during removal.

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Philips CPAP

Toxic foam degradation. FDA Class I recall.

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Hip & Knee Implants

$2.5B+ settlements. Premature device failure.

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NEC Baby Formula

1,000+ pending. Premature infant intestinal disease.

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Toxic Exposure

PFAS / Forever Chemicals

Drinking water contamination. Cancer, thyroid disease.

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Roundup

4,400+ pending. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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AFFF Firefighting Foam

Military/airport PFAS contamination.

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Camp Lejeune

Water contamination 1953-1987. Cancer, Parkinson's.

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Asbestos / Mesothelioma

$30B+ in trust funds. Construction, military, industrial.

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Mass Tort vs. Class Action

In a class action, one plaintiff represents everyone and outcomes are averaged. In a mass tort, each plaintiff files individually. Your damages — your medical bills, your lost income, your suffering — are evaluated separately. This usually results in more accurate and often larger compensation for people with serious injuries.

What Compensation Looks Like

Anyone who promises a specific dollar figure before reviewing your situation is not being honest with you.