Product Liability and Mass Torts Glossary of Terms

Asbestos — A mineral fiber found in construction materials that is known to cause mesothelioma.

Class Action — A type of civil lawsuit in which a large group of people bring a claim to court collectively.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act — A consumer protection law passed by the United States Congress in 2008, largely in response to several high profile recalls involving products made in China during 2007 and 2008.

Contingency Lawyer — Lawyers who earn a percentage of the money their clients receive after settling or winning a case, rather than charging a flat-fee or "per-hour" rate.

FDA — The United States Food and Drug Administration.  This federal agency was established to regulate the release of new foods, drugs and other health-related products.

Mass Tort — A type of civil lawsuit involving many plaintiffs against one or a few corporate defendants.

Mesothelioma — A rare cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lung (pleural membrane) or abdominal cavity (the peritoneum).  Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure.

Product Liability — The responsibility of a manufacturer or vendor of goods to compensate an individual for injuries caused by defective merchandise.  Product liability cases may be brought because (1) the product has a faulty design and/or was manufactured improperly; or (2) insufficient warnings were provided about the product's known dangers.

Recall — A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues.  In the United States, recalls may be voluntary or ordered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Tort — The body of law that allows an injured person to obtain compensation from the party responsible for causing his injury.

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) — The federal commission charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from the thousands of consumer products under its jurisdiction.