In this edition of mass tort spends, we bring you an exclusive glimpse into the hottest trending torts and ad spends in the month of April.
This piece delves deep into the hottest trends in mass tort cases, providing valuable insights.

Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune continues to dominate in terms of spending. While there was a significant decrease in spending this month compared to the consistent upward trend observed since February and March, Camp Lejeune remains one of the most significant torts in the market, with substantial investments reaching into the millions. This consistent high expenditure demonstrates the continued relevance and importance of the Camp Lejeune case. 
As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to monitor how the spending and developments shape the outcome and impact of the Camp Lejeune tort.

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Fire Fighting Foam

The spending for the AFFF tort has shown a consistent upward trend. In February, the spending was at $77,719, which then jumped to $576,456 in March, and further increased to $735,026 in April. 
This significant rise in spending over the past few months indicates a growing focus and investment in the fire fighting foam tort.
It is still too early to establish definitive patterns, but the sustained increase in spending suggests continued interest and potential developments in this tort. 

With the rising spending and increasing attention, the AFFF tort is certainly one to keep a close watch on.

Chemical Hair Straightener

This month, spending for the chemical hair straightener tort dropped below the million-dollar mark; however, it continues to maintain a strong position within the top five.

Chemical straighteners and relaxers are widely used products for textured hair, often used regularly, which amplifies the potential risks for consumers. As time progresses, an increasing number of claimants join this tort, leading to steady returns for the foreseeable future.

Hernia Mesh

Hernia Mesh continues to be one of the most popular torts reported on a monthly basis. Spending data for the past three months are as follows: $311,514 in February 2023, $380,909 in March 2023, and $429,267 in April 2023.

Even though trends fluctuate, Hernia Mesh continues to be a popular tort.

Talc

Talcum powder spends saw an unexpected dip below $100,000 this month, despite consistently averaging around or above $1 million in the past few months. US Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan ruled Thursday afternoon that tens of thousands of talc-related claims against Johnson & Johnson’s will be on hold for 60 days, stopping short of the company’s request for a longer hold. Kaplan also advised the parties to work with a mediator to reach a settlement. The stay lasts until June 15. While existing suits have been stayed, Kaplan said that new suits could still be filed and discovery continued in present cases.

Due to Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to settle these cases through bankruptcy, tens of thousands of lawsuits have been halted. More updates will be shared on any developments as the situation unfolds.

CPAP

Despite experiencing fluctuations, the CPAP tort has witnessed a significant decrease in spend this month, falling below $100,000 for the first time in over six months.

This development raises curiosity regarding whether other torts might outperform CPAP in the near future. 

Roundup

Recently, this tort has shown a considerable level of unpredictability. After experiencing an unexpected surge earlier this year, followed by a significant decline last month, there has been a slight increase in spending on Roundup®.

The future outlook for this tort is uncertain and difficult to anticipate. However, the landscape could potentially change significantly based on the outcome of Sharlean Gordon’s jury trial in Missouri.

This trial holds the potential to impact individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of non-commercial use of Roundup®. Depending on the trial’s result, there is a possibility that this tort may regain momentum and generate renewed interest.

Paraquat

The ad spend for Paraquat has shown a significant decline over the past three months. The trend continued with a significant decrease to just $453 this month.

This indicates a sharp decline in advertising investment for Paraquat, suggesting a potential shift in priorities or market dynamics.

It will be interesting to observe whether this trend persists in the coming months or if there are any changes in the ad spend strategy for Paraquat.