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

A class action lawsuit and a multi-district litigation (MDL) are two types of litigation that involve cases with multiple plaintiffs and defendants. However, there are a few key differences between the two. A class action lawsuit is a legal procedure that is designed to combine the claims of a large group of people with similar legal issues into one cohesive case. The class action is filed in a single court, with one judge presiding over the entire case. This type of lawsuit is typically used when a large number of people are seeking damages from a negligent party. In contrast, a multi-district litigation (MDL) is a procedure where lawsuits with similar legal issues, but which involve different individual plaintiffs and defendants, are consolidated for pretrial proceedings and discovery. This type of litigation takes place in multiple courts, with a panel of judges overseeing the proceedings. MDLs are often used in cases where the claims of the plaintiffs involve pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, or other large corporations. Both class action lawsuits and MDLs are designed to speed up the judicial process and reduce the costs associated with handling multiple individual claims from different plaintiffs. In the state of North Carolina, class action lawsuits and MDLs are governed by the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

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

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