Long Island Mass Tort Lawyer

Class Action Lawsuits

If you have been hurt by a defective product or have suffered financial damages, then a group action lawsuit might be an excellent opportunity to seek compensation for your losses. These large-scale civil action lawsuits — which include cases that fall under the titles of “class action lawsuits” and “mass torts” — allow individuals to easily join, receive the benefit of collective representation, and receive a portion of the agreed-upon settlement or payout. Appointing your own class action or mass tort lawyer to represent you can ensure that your interests are heard and that your claims process is as stress-free as possible.

TonaLaw has nearly two decades of experience representing injured clients as well as clients who have suffered financial losses. We provide knowledgeable legal counsel and representation in a wide variety of tort case types.

If you have suffered losses related to an ongoing class-action or mass tort lawsuit, we can assist you with joining the collective civil action and having your voice heard. We provide guidance regarding all of your available legal options, such as joining a mass tort multi-district litigation (MDL) case or filing an individual lawsuit instead. We always provide objective advice that is in your own best interest.

To learn more about ongoing class-action and mass tort lawsuits or to speak to a class-action and mass tort lawsuit attorney for guidance, call 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online today.

Mass Tort Cases We Represent

There are many ongoing mass tort cases and class action lawsuits going on at any given time. When there is a single act of negligence or a recurring act committed by one party, a mass tort case will commonly arise.

Some of the most common reasons for a mass tort concern individuals who have developed a disease, like cancer or asbestosis, after exposure to a certain product or environment.

TonaLaw is ready to assist any potential clients who have developed a major health condition in relation to the following types of mass tort cases.

Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claims

There may be compensation available for those who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in New River North Carolina. As part of the “Honoring our PACT Act of 2022,” the Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act on June 16, 2022.

Individuals exposed to contaminated drinking water have only two years to file a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. As a result of tests conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the drinking water was found to be contaminated with benzene, vinyl chloride, tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene.

Roundup Cancer Mass Tort

The popular weedkiller Roundup is used in millions of farms and residential gardens throughout the world. Recent research shows that the herbicide product glyphosate is a probable carcinogen. Many heavy users of Roundup or similar glyphosate products have developed cancer and have come forward to successfully argue for damages from the Bayer corporation.

TonaLaw can represent you if you have developed a form of cancer after regular exposure to Roundup or other glyphosate products.

Hernia Mesh Lawsuits

Hernia mesh medical devices are intended to reduce the risk of certain hernia events, but several products have instead led to medical complications. Abdominal tears, organ damage, infection, and other adverse events have developed in patients who have had a hernia mesh product installed.

If you have had hernia mesh surgically implanted and now suffer from complications, let TonaLaw help you seek appropriate damages for your past and future medical treatment.

Juul Lawsuits

There are multiple pending cases involving the nicotine vaporization products manufactured under the Jull brand name and other brand names. Ongoing medical research shows that the “vape” products could be partially to blame for the sudden acute respiratory syndrome, a serious medical condition that has led to hospitalizations and deaths. 

Additionally, Juul products are popular with teens, and there is evidence to suggest Juul directly marketed their products to these underage demographics.

If you have suffered an acute health event or developed a chronic condition or are the parent of a teen addicted to nicotine products after using Juul or similar vaporization devices, you may have a potential case.

9/11 World Trade Center Cancer

After the events of September 11, 2001, individuals who lived, worked, or attended school near the World Trade Center began to suffer from chronic conditions and many different cancers. 9/11 first responders were some of the patient groups impacted the most by exposure to cancer-causing toxins from the World Trade Center.

TonaLaw can assist you with filing a claim with the 9/11 victims’ compensation fund (VCF). Congress recently extended the deadline by 50 more years, so if you have been told in the past you have missed your chance to file a claim, you now have a new chance to obtain compensation.

Zantac Cancer Lawyer

The popular drug Zantac (ranitidine) has been recalled after it was discovered that certain components break down into cancer-causing chemicals. If you have taken Zantac or another ranitidine medication for your chronic heartburn and now have a cancer diagnosis or symptoms of cancer, TonaLaw can provide you with a legal representative to help you seek appropriate damages.

Belviq Weight Loss Drug Cancer

The drug Belviq (lorcaserin) was released to the market with the idea that it could help individuals with obesity lose weight by reducing their appetite hormones. Unfortunately, Belviq had more health risks than were initially reported to the FDA, and it was also discovered that components of the drug may cause cancer. Common cancers associated with lorcaserin include pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and others.

If you have taken Belviq and have a diagnosis for or symptoms of any of these cancers, TonaLaw can review your case and help you with filing a potential claim.

Firefighting Foam Cancer Lawsuits

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a fire-suppression agent used in environments where fuel fires are common, such as airports, refineries, and military aircraft carriers. It was discovered that this firefighting foam contains chemicals that persist in the environment and are known to cause cancer. Even though most users of AFFF firefighting foam have since switched to safer alternatives, there are still thousands of people with past exposure and a possibly related cancer diagnosis.

TonaLaw can provide you with guidance and legal representation if you have been exposed to firefighting foam during the course of your job and you have since been diagnosed with cancer.

Allergan Breast Implant Cancer Lawsuits

Allergan is the manufacturer of a popular textured breast implant device that was recently recalled by the FDA because of its potential to cause a rare form of cancer. Unlike breast cancer, this malignancy forms in the scar tissue and fluid built up around the implant device. Allergan offered compensation to individuals who had their BIOCELL textured breast implants surgically implanted, but the remedy neglects key damages, such as the cost of future medical treatment or the option to have a non-Allergan device replacement.

If you have had an Allergen textured breast implant surgically implanted and have suffered from health effects, received a cancer diagnosis, or want compensation to have the implants removed and/or replace, get in touch with TonaLaw so we can help you join the ongoing mass tort.

Contaminated Hand Sanitizers

The FDA has recalled 149 different hand sanitizer pro/class-action-lawsuits-and-mass-tort-lawyers/hurt-by-contaminated-hand-sanitizer-take-legal-action/ducts for possible contamination with deadly toxic chemicals.

If you or someone you know has been injured by hand sanitizer products listed on the FDA recall list, you may be entitled to compensation for your resulting medical bills and other losses.

What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?

A class-action lawsuit is a single case collectively representing multiple injured parties (plaintiffs). Many class-action lawsuits can also involve multiple defendants. The idea is that a single case can be used in the place of what would otherwise be dozens — sometimes hundreds — of individual cases. This collective action makes life simpler for the courts, the plaintiffs, and the defendants.

Notably, class action lawsuits are highly visible. Purchasers of a specific defective product or service may be automatically notified of their eligibility via mail, and they may see advertisements for class action proceedings on TV.

Most class action lawsuits tend to involve large businesses. Large corporations have the ability to affect many people at once, so if they commit an act of negligence or willful misconduct that leads to damages, then it is likely that many people will have suffered the same type of damages.

When class-action lawsuits reach a ruling or a settlement agreement, the plaintiff’s attorneys will negotiate a portion of the total available compensation for their client(s). These awards are typically split evenly, but larger awards may go to those who experienced the worst extent of damages.

However, possible plaintiffs should note that joining a class action does not necessarily promise the best results. You have a personal interest in researching all available options before agreeing to join a class-action lawsuit. This includes the option to take an individual action separate from the group class action one.

Bargaining power may be limited for individual plaintiffs who have joined a class-action lawsuit. They will have to rely on the argumentative powers of the main representative attorneys, and they will have limited to no ability to argue for a different award amount than the one in the final agreement. Because of these limitations, some individuals may choose to file an individual action, giving up the security and convenience of collective action in exchange for having their individual needs represented to a higher degree.

What Is a Mass Tort?

Joining a class-action lawsuit may be your only legal option if your case is substantially similar or identical to those of the other plaintiffs. However, if you have a unique case — especially one involving unique damages — then you may have the option to seek an alternative legal path to resolution.

One of the most common forms of collective civil action is referred to as a “mass tort.” It involves multiple plaintiffs with individual cases filing for damages from similar injuries all caused by a common defendant. When the cases are all consolidated into one court system, it is referred to as “multidistrict litigation (MDL).”

Unlike a class-action lawsuit, plaintiffs in a mass tort or MDL are not represented collectively by a single body of attorneys. Instead, they all have individual cases with their own individual voices and goals. At the same time, the plaintiffs are allowed to file under a single common cause, sometimes within a single court jurisdiction. 

Mass torts filed through an MDL not only simplify the process for the court, but it also allows injured persons to file a claim in a jurisdiction where their case may have better legal standing than they would normally have access to. Despite the fact that they consolidate cases under a single court, MDL lawsuits are still usually incredibly complex. They may take years to resolve, and the ultimate awards to each individual claimant may require separate rulings or agreements.

A mass tort can provide a beneficial alternative to the single representation structure of a class action since it can allow individuals plaintiffs to pursue their individualized goals.

Filing an Individual Civil Lawsuit Instead of Joining a Mass Tort

Individuals who have been injured or who have suffered financial losses may be able to file a legal action separate from any ongoing collective mass tort lawsuits. This is especially true if their case involves unique circumstances or more extensive damages than the average plaintiff participating in the class action lawsuit.

Filing an individual lawsuit gives you more freedom to seek specific damages and to argue that the defendant was at fault for specific reasons. This may be especially beneficial if the plaintiff was injured in a scenario that is quite different than the typical mass tort lawsuit participant.

Drawbacks to individual action include the risk of not being able to secure the same level of success as the collective action, higher individual litigation costs versus spreading it out collectively and the possibility that you must file in a jurisdiction that may offer less tactical advantage than the one where the collective action is taking place.

Whether or not an individual action, a class-action lawsuit, or mass tort is the best option for injured plaintiffs will vary on a case-by-case basis. Overall, it is up to each individual plaintiff to decide what method of legal action is most appropriate, which they can do effectively by speaking to an experienced mass tort lawsuit attorney.

Work with Experienced Mass Tort Lawsuit Attorneys

TonaLaw is ready and waiting to hear from you and to potentially take your case. We have represented hundreds of individuals in Long Island and throughout the country after they have been injured or have suffered financial losses because of harmful business practices of Goliath corporations.

Get in touch with our mass tort lawsuit attorneys to learn about all of your available legal options and to receive advice for the best next steps to take.

Schedule your free, no-obligation case review when you call us today at 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online.