The Mass Tort Battles Reshaping the U.S. Legal System in 2026 

When litigation explodes across jurisdictions, Multi-District Litigation (MDL) brings order to chaos. 

In 2026, federal courts are overseeing some of the most consequential coordinated proceedings in modern history. Pharmaceutical giants, chemical manufacturers, medical device companies, and consumer product brands are facing nationwide waves of claims, consolidated, structured, and moving toward high-stakes bellwether trials. 

From talcum powder and PFAS to GLP-1 drugs and hernia mesh, these litigations are not isolated disputes. They represent a systemic shift in how mass harm is investigated, litigated, and valued in the United States. 

Below are the MDLs defining 2026. 

Explore – Mass-Tort-Support-Solution/ 

1. Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder MDL No. 2738  

Alleged Injuries: Ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, other gynecologic cancers  

Approx. Filings: 67,000+  

States with High Concentration of Claimants: California, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania  

Current Status (2026):  67,622 cases are pending in the largest active MDL (District of New Jersey). Recent verdicts: $1.5B (Baltimore) and $65.5M (Minnesota). J&J’s third bankruptcy bid was dismissed (Mar 2025). Mediator appointed, no settlement planned. Carter Judkins is next bellwether; ovarian cancer trial continues in California. 

2. PFAS / AFFF Firefighting Foam MDL No. 2873  

Alleged Injuries: Kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease (including thyroid cancer), liver cancer  

Approx. Filings: 15,000+  

States with High Concentration: South Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania  

Current Status (2026):  15,216 cases pending in South Carolina up 99% since Jan 2025. Oct bellwether vacated. Water settlements top $12.2B: 3M ($10.3B), DuPont $1.185B, Carrier $730M). No personal injury settlements yet; individual cancer claims $200K–$1M. Judge Gergel reviewing filings before new bellwethers. 
 

3. Paraquat LitigationMDL-3004  

Alleged Injury: Parkinson’s disease  

Approx. Filings: 6,400+   

High-Concentration States: Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio (agricultural regions)  

Current Status (2026): 6,476 cases pending in the Southern District of Illinois. Over 30 countries banned; PD risk up 2.5× since 1964, the first US registration. Bellwether scheduling is ongoing, with both sides watching scientific rulings that could shape settlements. 

4. Chemical Hair Relaxer MDL No. 3060  

Alleged Injuries: Cancer and reproductive disorders  

Approx. Filings: 11,000+  

High-Concentration States: Illinois, California, Texas, Florida, Georgia  
(States with larger Black female populations show higher claimant concentration)  

Current Status (2026): 11,195 cases pending in the Northern District of Illinois. Science Day set for Jan 2026; bellwether discovery due Feb 16, with 10 cases selected by March. Daubert motions due April 1; first bellwether trials expected in 2027. 

Special Master Ellen K. Reisman appointed April 2025 to guide settlements. Revlon reserved $44M for claims; projected cancer settlements $150K–$750K. No settlements announced yet. 

5. Depo-Provera MDL No. 3140  

Alleged Injury: Brain tumors  

Approx. Filings: 2,000+  

High-Concentration States: Florida, California, Texas, New York  

Current Status (2026): First bellwether trial set for Dec 7–14, 2026. Judge Rodgers directed five pilot cases: first in Dec 2026, four more in Jan 2027. The lead case involves a Florida plaintiff alleging a brain tumor from Depo-Provera. 

Daubert hearings on general causation are scheduled for May 2026. Pfizer’s federal preemption motion is pending. Case count has surged to 2,098 in Northern Florida, a 2,600% increase since March 2025. 

6. C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh MDL No. 2846  

Alleged Injuries: Chronic pain, organ damage, infections, device failure  

Approx. Filings: Over 23,800 cases pending (Southern District of Ohio)  

High-Concentration States: Nationwide; significant numbers from California, Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio  

Current Status (2026): Over 1M hernia mesh surgeries happen yearly in the U.S., with 10–15% complications including chronic pain, migration, and organ perforation. Defendants Davol, C.R. Bard, and BD face an active MDL gradually narrowing through settlements. 

7. Bayer Roundup MDL No. 2741  

Alleged Injury: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma  

Approx. Filings: Over 4,500 cases pending as of February 2026 (Northern District of California)  

High-Concentration States: California, Pennsylvania, Illinois  

Current Status (2026): Since June 2020, Bayer has paid over $10.9B in Roundup settlements. Glyphosate was classified as “probably carcinogenic” (Group 2A) by WHO’s IARC in 2015. The largest verdict, $2B in the Pilliod case, was later reduced to $87M on appeal; plaintiffs alleged Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

8. Camp Lejeune Water Contamination  

Alleged Injuries: Bladder cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, and other serious illnesses  

Approx. Filings: 3,600+ federal lawsuits (400,000+ administrative claims filed) 

High-Concentration States: North Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois  

Current Status (2026): Claims are being processed under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Federal lawsuits are rising as claimants miss administrative deadlines. Settlement grids are forming but remain complex. 

9. Ethylene Oxide (EtO)  

Alleged Injuries: Cancer, miscarriage, asthma  

Approx. Filings: 1,500+  

High-Concentration States: Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania  

Current Status (2026): Litigation continues against sterilization facility operators. Scientific evidence regarding airborne exposure levels remains central. State court actions also remain active. 

10. Infant Formula MDL No. 3026  

Alleged Injury: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants  

Approx. Filings: 700+ (Northern District of Illinois)  

High-Concentration States: Nationwide; notable filings from Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania  

Current Status (2026): 769 cases are pending. A 2024 Cochrane review shows human milk cuts NEC risk by ~50% vs. formula. About 7% of very low birth weight infants develop NEC, with prematurity the main risk factor. In July 2024, Abbott settled the first bellwether mid-trial; no global settlement announced. Lawsuits allege manufacturers failed to warn about the NEC risk. 
 

11. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (Ozempic and related drugs) MDL No. 3094  

Alleged Injuries: Gastroparesis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, serious GI complications  

Approx. Filings: Over 3,000 cases pending as of February 2026 with 130% growth (Eastern District of Pennsylvania)  

High-Concentration: All states  

Current Status (2026): 3,191 cases pending — a 130% surge since Jan 2025. Plaintiffs seek a “Vision Injury Track,” with 140+ claims of partial or total blindness; MDL No. 3163 covers NAION cases. Expert discovery closes Mar 27, 2026; summary judgment due Apr 16. Bellwether trials expected mid-2026. Potential liability exceeds $2B; no settlements announced. 

12. Suboxone Film MDL No. 3092  

Alleged Injuries: Dental decay, erosion, cavities, tooth loss  

Approx. Filings:  1,854 active lawsuits  

High-Concentration States: Nationwide; significant filings in Ohio and California  

Current Status (2026):  
No trial verdicts or settlements have been announced yet, but early test cases are expected soon. General causation discovery is progressing. Labeling adequacy and preemption arguments are central issues being litigated.  

2026: A Defining Year for MDLs 

Tens of thousands of claims. 
Billion-dollar verdicts. 
High-stakes Daubert rulings. 
Accelerating bellwether schedules. 

At Draft n Craft, we support the operational backbone of complex mass tort litigation. 

What Our Teams Execute Daily: 

Proven at Mass Tort Scale 

Across active MDLs and complex PI litigation, our teams have delivered: 

Explore – Mass-Tort-Support-Solution/