August 2026 MDL Statistics Report
Comprehensive analysis of federal multidistrict litigation data from the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML).
August 2026 Overview
The August 2026 JPML report shows 205,540 pending actions across 162 active dockets. Pending cases grew by 1,625 from July (+0.8%). The active docket count held steady at 162: one docket (MDL-3074, BPS Direct / Cabela's Wiretapping) re-entered the pending-actions report while one (MDL-3158, SAP SE Patent) dropped off.
J&J Talcum Powder (MDL-2738) again led all gainers, adding 479 cases to reach 68,914 and remaining by far the largest active MDL; its proposed $5.5 billion settlement of roughly 76,000 ovarian talc claims, announced July 27, 2026, is not yet final. Depo-Provera (MDL-3140) added +464 (to 6,294) in the wake of its June 15 global settlement in principle, and Uber Sexual Assault (MDL-3084) rose +457 (to 4,397) following its first federal bellwether verdicts.
Other strong gainers included Social Media Addiction (MDL-3047, +244), Bard PowerPort (MDL-3081, +170), GLP-1/Ozempic (MDL-3094, +80), and GLP-1 NAION (MDL-3163, +54).
On the other side, Gardasil (MDL-3036) dropped sharply (129 → 7) and Allergan Breast Implant (MDL-2921) shed 119 (1,496 → 1,377), while Hair Relaxer (MDL-3060) slipped 98, reflecting continued settlement and resolution activity. The federal MDL system remains highly concentrated: the top 5 dockets account for 63.5% of all pending actions and the top 25 for 95.7%.
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Largest Active MDLs
Top 25 = 95.7% of all cases| # | MDL | Litigation | District | Pending | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MDL-2738 | Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder | NJ | 68,914 | +479 |
| 2 | MDL-2846 | Bard Polypropylene Hernia Mesh | OHS | 23,321 | -61 |
| 3 | MDL-2873 | AFFF Firefighting Foam | SC | 15,246 | +2 |
| 4 | MDL-3060 | Hair Relaxer Products | ILN | 11,779 | -98 |
| 5 | MDL-2789 | Proton-Pump Inhibitor (No. II) | NJ | 11,321 | 0 |
| 6 | MDL-2666 | Bair Hugger Warming Devices | MN | 8,407 | -4 |
| 7 | MDL-3004 | Paraquat Herbicide | ILS | 6,665 | 0 |
| 8 | MDL-2570 | Cook Medical IVC Filters | INS | 6,537 | +1 |
| 9 | MDL-3140 | Depo-Provera | FLN | 6,294 | +464 |
| 10 | MDL-3084 | Uber Sexual Assault | CAN | 4,397 | +457 |
| 11 | MDL-2974 | Paragard IUD | GAN | 4,156 | +45 |
| 12 | MDL-2741 | Roundup Weedkiller | CAN | 3,932 | +12 |
| 13 | MDL-3094 | GLP-1/Ozempic | PAE | 3,928 | +80 |
| 14 | MDL-3081 | Bard PowerPort Catheter | AZ | 3,734 | +170 |
| 15 | MDL-3047 | Social Media Adolescent Addiction | CAN | 3,137 | +244 |
| 16 | MDL-2804 | National Prescription Opiates | OHN | 2,915 | -12 |
| 17 | MDL-3029 | Covidien Hernia Mesh | MA | 2,449 | +24 |
| 18 | MDL-3044 | Exactech Orthopedic | NYE | 1,838 | 0 |
| 19 | MDL-3092 | Suboxone Film | OHN | 1,827 | -5 |
| 20 | MDL-2875 | Valsartan Blood Pressure | NJ | 1,417 | -1 |
| 21 | MDL-2921 | Allergan Breast Implant | NJ | 1,377 | -119 |
| 22 | MDL-2924 | Zantac/Ranitidine | FLS | 847 | 0 |
| 23 | MDL-2848 | Zostavax Shingles Vaccine | PAE | 826 | 0 |
| 24 | MDL-3026 | Preterm Infant Formula/NEC | ILN | 825 | +15 |
| 25 | MDL-3014 | Philips CPAP/Ventilator Recall | PAW | 624 | +1 |
Docket Changes in August 2026
The active docket count held steady at 162 in August 2026: one docket re-entered the JPML's pending-actions report and one dropped off, a net change of zero.
Added / Re-entered
- MDL-3074 — BPS Direct / Cabela's Wiretapping Litigation · E.D. Pa., Judge Mark A. Kearney · 2 pending (data breach) · returned to the report after being absent in prior months
Terminated
- MDL-3158 — SAP SE, et al., Patent Litigation · present in July, absent from the August report
Fastest Growing Litigation
Key Trend: Growth was broad-based this month rather than driven by a single docket. J&J Talcum Powder (MDL-2738, +406), Uber (MDL-3084, +369), and Depo-Provera (MDL-3140, +322) led the gainers, with Uber's surge following its first federal bellwether verdicts and Depo-Provera's continuing after its June 15 global settlement in principle. The ten fastest-growing MDLs together added roughly 1,900 cases.
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MDLs with Case Reductions
Gardasil
Allergan Breast Implant
Hair Relaxer Products
Taxotere Chemotherapy
Bard Polypropylene Hernia Mesh
National Prescription Opiates
MDL Distribution by Litigation Type
| Category | MDLs | Pending | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Products | 9 | 88,753 | 43.2% |
| Medical Device | 24 | 53,423 | 26% |
| Pharmaceutical | 22 | 31,804 | 15.5% |
| Agricultural/Environmental | 4 | 25,844 | 12.6% |
| Other / Sales Practices | 42 | 3,507 | 1.7% |
| Data Breach/Privacy | 20 | 1,125 | 0.5% |
| Antitrust | 41 | 1,084 | 0.5% |
MDL Distribution by Federal District
| # | District | Full Name | MDLs | Pending | % Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NJ | District of New Jersey | 13 | 84,489 | 41.1% |
| 2 | OHS | Southern District of Ohio | 2 | 23,328 | 11.3% |
| 3 | SC | District of South Carolina | 2 | 15,272 | 7.4% |
| 4 | ILN | Northern District of Illinois | 12 | 13,744 | 6.7% |
| 5 | CAN | Northern District of California | 19 | 12,930 | 6.3% |
| 6 | MN | District of Minnesota | 8 | 8,772 | 4.3% |
| 7 | ILS | Southern District of Illinois | 1 | 6,665 | 3.2% |
| 8 | INS | Southern District of Indiana | 1 | 6,537 | 3.2% |
| 9 | FLN | Northern District of Florida | 2 | 6,296 | 3.1% |
| 10 | PAE | Eastern District of Pennsylvania | 8 | 5,451 | 2.7% |
District of New Jersey Dominance: The District of New Jersey continues to host the lion's share of pending MDL actions at 41.4%, driven primarily by the massive J&J Talcum Powder (68,435 cases) and Proton-Pump Inhibitor (11,321 cases) litigations.
Case Concentration Analysis
The federal MDL system exhibits extreme concentration, with a small number of mega-litigations dominating the landscape.
Litigation Winding Down
3M Combat Arms Earplug
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Avandia
Ethicon Physiomesh
Data Sources & Methodology
All statistics presented in this report are derived from official data published by the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML). The JPML is the federal judicial body responsible for determining whether civil actions pending in different federal districts involve common questions of fact warranting consolidation for pretrial proceedings.
Primary Source
- Report: Distribution of Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending
- Report Date: July 1, 2026
- Publisher: United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Definitions
- Pending Actions: Individual cases currently awaiting resolution within an MDL
- Total/Historical Actions: Cumulative count of all cases ever transferred to an MDL since its creation
- Transferee District: The federal district court where an MDL's pretrial proceedings are consolidated
- Transferee Judge: The federal judge assigned to oversee the consolidated pretrial proceedings
The JPML publishes updated statistics on the first business day of each month. MDLUpdate.com analyzes and publishes these statistics within 24-48 hours of release.
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Every case is unique, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Past settlement amounts and case outcomes do not guarantee similar results in your case. If you believe you have a legal claim, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can evaluate your specific situation.