What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and a multi-district litigation?

The primary difference between a class action lawsuit and a multi-district litigation (MDL) is the type of lawsuit being litigated. A class action lawsuit is filed when a group of people have suffered the same or similar harm and all want to join together to bring a single claim against the same party. This type of lawsuit allows people to band together to seek justice from a single defendant. A multi-district litigation, on the other hand, involves multiple separate cases which have been consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. This option is often chosen when there are multiple claimants who have suffered similar or identical harm but have each brought a separate lawsuit. In this case, the individual lawsuits are combined into a single action, allowing the court to manage them more efficiently. MDLs can involve hundreds or even thousands of claims, so they are especially useful when dealing with large groups of claimants or when the claims span multiple jurisdictions. In California, class action lawsuits and multi-district litigations are both used to protect the rights of people who have been detrimentally affected by the same event or action. Both are valuable tools for enforcing consumer protection laws and can result in restitution for those affected. If you think you may have a valid claim against a party, you should speak with an experienced class action attorney to determine the best course of action.

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What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and a multi-district litigation?

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