Overview
Multidistrict Litigation is a comprehensive treatise on multidistrict litigations (MDLs) and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) that oversees them. Multidistrict litigations comprise more than 50% of the federal civil docket—a figure that stands to increase. At the same time, relatively little about multidistrict litigation is available to practitioners. This book fills that gap by providing an in-depth analysis of MDLs and the reasoning and priorities of the JPML.
Multidistrict Litigation is structured into seven chapters, each meticulously covering various aspects of MDLs, from their history and modern usage to the powers and limits of the JPML, the decision-making processes for centralization and transfer, and the interaction of MDLs with other forms of aggregate litigation such as class actions and bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, the book includes unique appendixes organizing by area of law published opinions in which the JPML either centralized or declined to create a multidistrict litigation (Appendix A), and published transfer orders organized by factors that the JPML has identified as relevant to the selection of the transferee district (Appendix B).
With its practical approach and powerful insights, Multidistrict Litigation is an essential resource for commercial litigators across all practice groups, particularly those in antitrust, labor, patents, products liability, and securities. As MDLs grow exponentially, readers can expect regular and thorough updates on all of the JPML’s latest published opinions and incisive analysis of the latest trends and developments.