Indianapolis Mass Tort Attorneys
Mass Tort Litigation in Indiana
When corporate negligence causes widespread harm, those responsible should be held legally accountable. At Hovde Dassow + Deets, our Indianapolis mass tort attorneys have successfully represented countless clients in complex litigation against major manufacturers, corporations, and other powerful entities. We frequently handle mass torts involving defective products, toxic exposure, dangerous medications, and more.
Our goal is to maximize every individual client’s recovery so that they can move through the healing process. To date, we have secured more than $300 million in compensation for our clients and are recognized as one of Indiana’s leading mass tort law firms, thanks to our careful analysis of claims, meticulous case preparation, and aggressive approach to litigation.
If you have been injured or if someone you love died due to another entity’s widespread negligence or wrongful conduct, call (317) 576-3241or contact us online for a free consultation.
What Is a Mass Tort?
A mass tort is similar to a class action in that it allows a group of people to file a consolidated lawsuit against a single entity. Unlike a class action lawsuit, however, mass torts do not result in a single settlement or verdict which then must be split amongst all participating parties; instead, a successful mass tort allows each participating plaintiff to receive a personalized settlement or verdict specific to their situation. This makes mass torts practical in situations in which multiple people are uniquely harmed by a singular cause.
For example, a defective medical device is likely to cause varying degrees of injury in different individuals who receive the device. While one patient may experience relatively mild complications, another could face life-threatening bodily injury or even death due to the same defective device. The damages suffered by these patients—such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—will differ depending on the degree of injury suffered. Mass tort litigation allows victims and surviving family members to seek compensation that is specific to their damages.
What Are the Benefits of Mass Tort Litigation?
There are several advantages to filing a mass tort compared to engaging in single-plaintiff litigation or participating in a class action lawsuit. Mass tort litigation allows for the consolidation of multiple individual lawsuits against a single defendant, which reduces the overall number of cases moving through the legal system. Additionally, information regarding a single case, including claim investigation and preparation, can be used to support another. This often translates to a more expedited and streamlined process.
When compared to class actions, mass torts offer the advantage of personalized recoveries. A successful class action lawsuit results in a single settlement or verdict that is split amongst all participating parties, meaning the more plaintiffs who take part in the class action, the lower each individual plaintiff’s recovery. A mass tort, on the other hand, allows each participating party to seek personalized compensation based on the specific damages they have suffered.
Do You Have a Mass Tort Action?
To have a mass tort, or grounds to participate in a mass tort, you must be one of multiple affected parties. In other words, if you were the sole injured party, you do not have a mass tort. Instead, you may file a single-plaintiff personal injury or wrongful death claim. Additionally, all affected parties must have claims against a single entity, such as a negligent corporate entity or manufacturer.
Most mass torts involve the following:
- Defective consumer products, such as auto defects
- Pharmaceutical claims, such as defective drugs or medical devices
- Medical/professional malpractice, such as hospital negligence
- Environmental torts, such as toxic exposure or groundwater contamination
Note that while many mass torts involve bodily injury or death, mass tort litigation may also solely involve monetary harm. For example, an environmental tort involving an oil spill that results in widespread damage to coastlines, thereby negatively affecting nearby businesses, could serve as grounds for mass tort litigation.
Typically, the court will grant permission to file a mass tort action when:
- Multiple plaintiffs are seeking to sue a single party (known as a “tortfeasor”)
- The plaintiffs have suffered similar but different injuries and/or damages
- The plaintiffs’ individual claims relate to a sole cause or negligent/wrongful act
The court will weigh these and other factors—such as the relation of the plaintiffs’ various locations—when determining whether to grant the attorneys’ request(s) to file a mass tort.
Types of Mass Torts We Handle
At Hovde Dassow + Deets, we have more than 100 years of combined experience handling all types of mass tort actions.
We frequently assist clients with litigation involving:
- Defective Juul E-cigarettes
- Mesothelioma/asbestos exposure
- Defective drugs, such as Risperdal
- Dangerous medical devices
- Harmful consumer products, such as talcum powder
- Defective testosterone therapy treatments
- Environmental torts
When you trust your case to our team, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. As a client, you will always receive personalized attention and communication, and one of our partner attorneys will be directly involved in your case from start to finish.
If you suffered a serious injury, lost a loved one, or were otherwise negatively impacted by something that caused harm to many, reach out to our Indianapolis mass tort attorneys today to learn how we can help. We offer free initial consultations and contingency fees, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.
Get started with your free consultation; call (317) 576-3241.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
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"Within moments Mr. Deets's confidence & sincerity absolutely set me at ease."
As soon as I spoke with Mr. Deeds after a terrible tragedy I endured with my daughter's passing. Within moments his confidence and sincerity absolutely set me at ease and I knew he would do right by me and my family! I absolutely adore him.- Kim C. -
"Professionalism, Quality Service, Responsiveness, & Valuable"
I was referred to this firm with a difficult problem that was making most of my life a mess. Nick Deets and people at his firm went right to work. They made sure they understood my situation. Designed a plan that put me at ease and allowed me the confidence to tend to my career and family. I would highly recommend Nick and his firm for your legal issues.- Kelsey B. -
"This is an exceptional law firm!"
I was severely injured by a metal-on-metal hip implant. I needed a lawyer willing and capable to go up against the corporate Goliath, Smith & Nephew. After writing and calling various attorneys across the country who claimed in their TV advertisements to be powerful law firms willing to take on Smith & Nephew, but apparently were too busy to personally talk to me by phone and were unimpressive in their return letters, I became very discouraged. Time is a huge issue with injury cases like mine. My main concern was finding a lawyer that would not “rip me off”, waste my time and incompetently ruin my limited opportunity. After hours of research, I found an article about an outstanding victory a law firm had obtained in dealing with the very same medical company that had injured me. I was amazed to learn that the winning law firm, Hovde Dassow & Deets, was located in my own home city of Indianapolis. This proved a God-send. My first meeting with Nicholas Deets restored my hope. I appreciated Nick’s candor as he assessed my case. His confidence seemed quite genuine and I left feeling very encouraged… and counting on him. As he had advised me, I would need to be patient; these things take time. He was right. But in the end, facing a powerful multinational medical-technology company, Nick Deets prevailed as a most EFFECTIVE victor on my behalf. By his skill, resources, and experience Nick made particular winning moves… and I was amazed at what he delivered! My settlement exceeded my most hopeful expectation!
I am truly grateful to Nick Deets, who proved himself to be a highly capable, trustworthy, outstanding attorney. This is an exceptional law firm.- John K. -
"The level of communication was outstanding."
Nick Deets was our family’s attorney for my mother’s wrongful death case. Mr. Deets came highly recommended during our family’s search for legal representation. We were very impressed with Mr. Deets during our initial visit and immediately signed up with him. Mr. Deets was available to us as needed while our case was active. He kept us informed every step of the way. The level of communication was outstanding. Without going into detail, there was an aspect to our case that Mr. Deets uncovered. Most attorneys would have never made this discovery- and in the end, it raised the level of the conclusion of our case substantially. This is exactly why we wanted a competent and experienced attorney. Mr. Deets went toe to toe with the opposition at every step of the way. He fought for every inch. You never have to wonder whose side the attorney is on if you hire this firm. Most people only go through a tragedy once in their lifetime. The loss in our case was unfathomable. Our family is so grateful that we didn’t make the situation worse by having a negative experience law firm. Our family was extremely satisfied with the job performance of our attorney, Nick Deets. We pray that we never experience the unfathomable loss that necessitated the need to hire an attorney again. If we should ever have to hire an attorney again, we would hire this law firm again with no hesitation whatsoever. That is probably the strongest recommendation anyone could give. Thanks for everything.- Kenneth E.
