Mass torts are civil action cases involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few corporate defendants in state or federal court. The term "mass" signifies the involvement of many plaintiffs. Mass tort lawsuits often arise in the context of product liability, where defective or dangerous products harm a large number of individuals. Unlike class action lawsuits, where plaintiffs with similar claims are treated as a single class, mass tort lawsuits treat each plaintiff's case individually, acknowledging that the damages and effects can vary significantly from person to person. Mass tort litigation is typically used in cases where a large group of people is injured or harmed by the same product, medication, or event.