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Judicial Panel on

Multidistrict Litigation

One Columbus Circle, N.E.

Room G-255, N. Lobby

Washington, DC 20002-8004

(202) 502-2800

Judicial Panel Website

Panel Executive:

Josh R. Bullock

Clerk of the Panel:
Marcella P. Lockert, Acting

Jurisdiction: 
Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) refers to a special procedure in the U.S. district courts (a number of states have similar procedures) designed to speed the process of handling complex cases such as product liability actions involving adverse reactions to drugs and defective consumer products. These cases often involve hundreds, even thousands, of plaintiffs who have similar claims. In order to efficiently process such cases, the panel decides whether the cases should be consolidated under MDL. Cases so consolidated are sent from the courts where they are pending, known as the transferor courts, to the designated transferee court for all pretrial proceedings and discovery. If the litigation is not settled or dismissed in the transferee court, it is remanded to the original transferor courts for trial.