Due to the large number of cases that have arisen following the popularity of these metal on metal hip implant devices, many of these cases are being handled through what is known as multidistrict litigation, or MDL. Multidistrict litigation is in many ways a combination of a class action case and an individual medical malpractice case. A case that is in multidistrict litigation, will be pooled with other cases for purposes of the discovery phase of litigation. The most significant benefit of this process is that the costs to pursue the case are dramatically less than they would be with an individual claim. Almost always, these savings are passed on to the client and increase the total recovery.
After the discovery phase of a multidistrict litigation defective hip implant case, the case may remain within the multidistrict litigation pool to explore a possible settlement, or sent back to the initial court for negotiation and if necessary trial.