Los Angeles, CA complex litigation attorney Raymond Boucher talks about mass tort cases. He explains mass actions, although somewhat resembling class actions, differ in terms of their approach. In a mass action, rather than being brought as a representative action, the focus is on a group of individuals, such as 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 people, who have suffered injuries due to a defective product. A notable example is the Depew and ASR hip cases, where individuals had metal-on-metal hips implanted, resulting in metallosis and subsequent failures that caused severe injuries. Typically, these injuries affect people in their 50s, 60s, and even into their 70s.

A mass action involves multiple individuals who have been similarly impacted or affected, and the court oversees the management of the case in a single courtroom. This approach ensures that all parties are treated fairly and their claims are appropriately addressed within the same legal proceeding.