Short answer: The hottest mass torts in 2026 are the ones still adding cases. By the federal courts' October 1, 2026 count, talc is still the largest docket at 69,340 pending cases, but the biggest one-month gains came from social media addiction (+616), Bard implanted ports (+406), hair relaxers (+252) and Suboxone film (+195). For a firm deciding where to spend case-acquisition money, "hot" means three things: the docket is growing, intake is still open, and the injury criteria are clear enough to screen.
Key takeaways
- 162 active MDLs held 204,977 pending cases on October 1, 2026.
- Talc alone holds about one in three pending MDL cases.
- Social media addiction, Bard ports, hair relaxers and Suboxone film are where new claims are landing.
- Roundup dropped by 2,821 federal cases in one month. The federal report does not say why.
- Camp Lejeune is closed to new claims, and Oxbryta has no MDL.
How we judge whether a tort is worth buying
Size alone is a poor guide. A docket with 60,000 cases may be years into a settlement program that new cases can't join. We look at three questions before a tort goes on our list:
- Will the science hold? The link between the product and the injury has to survive expert challenges. Torts that have cleared, or are close to clearing, those challenges carry less risk.
- Are the criteria specific? Clear injury, product and date criteria make it possible to target the right people and screen them fast.
- Is the docket moving? Bellwether trials, settlement talks and steady filings mean money can move within a firm's planning window.
The largest product-liability MDLs right now
Pending cases on October 1, 2026, with the change from September 1. The figures come from the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's monthly report.
| MDL | Docket | Main injury alleged | Pending cases | One-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2738 | Talcum powder | Ovarian cancer, mesothelioma | 69,340 | +90 |
| 2873 | Firefighting foam (AFFF) | Cancers linked to PFAS exposure | 15,264 | 0 |
| 3060 | Hair relaxers | Uterine cancer | 12,381 | +252 |
| 3004 | Paraquat | Parkinson's disease | 6,602 | -64 |
| 3140 | Depo-Provera | Meningioma (brain tumor) | 6,412 | +9 |
| 3081 | Bard implanted port catheters | Device fracture, migration, infection | 4,140 | +406 |
| 3094 | GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic type) | Gastroparesis and other GI injuries | 4,025 | +3 |
| 3047 | Social media addiction | Youth mental health harms | 3,824 | +616 |
| 3092 | Suboxone film | Tooth decay and dental injuries | 2,022 | +195 |
| 2741 | Roundup | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 1,104 | -2,821 |
| 3163 | GLP-1 vision loss | Optic nerve damage and vision loss | 247 | +31 |
| 3043 | Tylenol in pregnancy | Autism and ADHD claims | 113 | +55 |
These counts cover federal MDL cases only. State-court cases, which are large in torts like talc and Roundup, are not included. The JPML publishes the source statistics every month.
Where the growth is
Social media addiction (MDL 3047)
The biggest gain on the list, up 616 cases in a month to 3,824. The claims allege that platforms were designed in ways that harm young users' mental health. Intake here centers on minors and their parents, which raises the bar for consent and sensitivity in every ad and call.
Bard implanted port catheters (MDL 3081)
Up 406 to 4,140. The claims allege implanted ports fractured, moved or caused infections. Device cases screen well because the implant, the date and the complication usually show up clearly in medical records.
Hair relaxers (MDL 3060)
Up 252 to 12,381, the third-largest product-liability docket. The claims center on uterine cancer, and summary-judgment and expert motions are due November 16, 2026. See our hair relaxer guide for law firms.
Suboxone film (MDL 3092)
Up 195 to 2,022. The claims allege the dissolving film caused tooth decay and other dental injuries. Dental records and prescription history carry most of the proof.
Big but steady
Talc grew by just 90 cases. Firefighting foam was flat at 15,264, Paraquat slipped to 6,602 and Depo-Provera barely moved at 6,412. The GLP-1 docket sat at 4,025, while the separate GLP-1 vision-loss MDL grew 31 cases to 247.
A large, flat docket is often a late-stage docket. Intake can still make sense, but the questions change: how close is a settlement program, and will a new case qualify for it?
Shrinking
Roundup fell from 3,925 to 1,104 pending federal cases in one month. The report counts cases. It does not say why they left, so check the docket itself before drawing conclusions.
Our 2025 picks, one year later
Last year we flagged the torts we expected to lead 2025. Here is where the ones with federal counts stand now.
| 2025 pick | Status in November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Depo-Provera brain tumors | 6,412 pending federal cases, growth has slowed |
| GLP-1 drugs | 4,025 pending, plus a separate vision-loss MDL at 247 and growing |
| Hair relaxers | 12,381 pending, still adding about 250 cases a month |
| Paraquat | 6,602 pending, down slightly |
| Camp Lejeune | Closed to new claims since August 2024; first trial held October 2026 |
The pattern matches what we expected: dockets with clear diagnoses and documented product use kept growing, and the ones built on harder-to-prove exposure slowed.
Outside the MDL counts
- Camp Lejeune is not an MDL, and it closed to new claims in August 2024. See where Camp Lejeune claims stand.
- Oxbryta has no MDL. Individual cases are moving toward settlement in California courts. See Oxbryta litigation in 2026.
How to use this list
- Look at growth, not just size. A docket adding hundreds of cases a month is where claimant demand is active.
- Confirm intake is still open. Check filing deadlines and each state's statute of limitations before you buy.
- Write your screening criteria first. Injury, diagnosis window, product use and documents, in writing, before a campaign starts. Our 12-point vetting checklist is a good place to start.
- Measure the right number. The only metric that matters at the end of the month is your cost per case.
Our mass tort leads page lists the campaigns we are running, and our lead standards explain how each case is screened.
FAQ
What is the largest mass tort in 2026?
Talcum powder (MDL 2738), with 69,340 pending federal cases on October 1, 2026.
Which mass torts are growing fastest?
In September 2026, social media addiction (+616), Bard implanted ports (+406), hair relaxers (+252) and Suboxone film (+195) added the most federal cases.
How many MDLs are active?
162 MDLs held 204,977 pending cases on October 1, 2026.
Do MDL counts include state-court cases?
No. The federal panel counts only cases centralized in federal MDLs.
Is Camp Lejeune still accepting claims?
No. The filing window closed in August 2024.
How often is this list updated?
We refresh it each month when the federal panel publishes new counts.
About the author
Fadi Agour, J.D., is the founder and CEO of FadiLaw Marketing LLC, the Houston-based parent company of Best Case Leads, Real Performance Marketing, Masstortsco, and Redostar. His companies have made the Inc. 5000 list seven years in a row.
Sources
- OpenClassActions: October 2026 MDL report, from the JPML's October 1, 2026 statistics
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation: pending MDL statistics
- OpenClassActions: What JPML reports do and do not count
- OpenClassActions: Hair relaxer MDL 3060 update (July 17, 2026)
- Mondaq: Product liability and the JPML, 2025 year in review
This article is general information about pending litigation, not legal advice. Best Case Leads is not a law firm.