As the calendar turns to 2025, the U.S. courtrooms are set to witness significant legal battles ranging from traditional product liability cases involving toxic exposure to innovative litigation challenging modern products like social media algorithms. Here’s an overview of some crucial mass torts to monitor in the coming year, which could reshape certain aspects of the U.S. legal landscape.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, continue to dominate environmental lawsuits. These “forever chemicals,” notorious for their persistence in both human bodies and the environment, are at the center of extensive litigation. Major chemical manufacturers have already settled claims worth over $11 billion with U.S. water systems over contamination issues. Yet, as PFAS are widespread, new lawsuits, including personal injury claims predominantly linked to firefighting foam, are emerging. These cases are poised to begin bellwether trials in South Carolina’s federal courts next year, signaling potential growth in PFAS-related actions.
Simultaneously, litigation against social media giants such as Meta, ByteDance, and Google is building momentum. These companies face accusations of contributing to teenage addiction and mental health problems, with multiple lawsuits having survived initial dismissal motions. A pivotal moment will arrive in October when California’s federal courts are scheduled to begin bellwether trials, possibly paving the way for future settlements.
Bayer is another corporation under judicial scrutiny due to its Roundup weedkiller product, containing the controversial ingredient glyphosate. Bayer, which inherited Roundup through its acquisition of Monsanto, confronted over 50,000 claims arguing that glyphosate causes cancer. Although Bayer has successfully defended many of these claims, the cumulative verdicts have exceeded a billion dollars, signaling ongoing challenges in court. Bayer hopes that the U.S. Supreme Court will be persuaded to hear its argument that federal law largely preempts the cancer claims, particularly after recent favorable court decisions at lower levels.
Another sector facing legal scrutiny is manufacturers of baby formula specifically designed for preterm infants. Companies like Abbott and Mead Johnson have been embroiled in litigation after being hit with substantial verdicts in the past year, alleging their products cause necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal disease. Despite the companies asserting these claims are based on flawed scientific understanding, almost a thousand cases are still pending, which could influence both corporate finances and medical practices concerning neonatal care.
A nascent and potentially expansive field of litigation concerns the health impacts of “ultra-processed” foods. In a notable case, a young man from Pennsylvania has accused several leading food companies of manipulating their products to be addictive, purportedly resulting in his diagnoses of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. This case, which challenges the absence of a clear definition and identified harmful substances in ultra-processed foods, could either instigate a significant new wave of litigation or falter depending on judicial outcomes and evolving U.S. health policy perspectives.
As these cases unfold, they will undoubtedly influence not only the parties involved but also regulatory practices and consumer behavior, reflecting the broader social and economic impacts of U.S. mass tort litigation.
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