MDL Cases Soar--Time for More Prevention and Resolution

There are no direct comments on arbitration/mediation/conflict resolution effects in Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.’s annual New Years' Day report on the federal judiciary, but you won’t have to dig deep in the report for obvious ADR needs . . . and opportunities for those in dispute prevention and dispute resolution fields.

Except for the Court itself, federal case filings are mostly increasing across the board, in the circuit and lower courts, in bankruptcy courts, and in criminal cases. Despite some hefty increases, the totals generally are well below pre-pandemic 2019 filings. 

Still, more cases should mean more effort to prevent and resolve.  But check out Page 10, the beginning of the reporting on federal trial court filings, because there is a glaring number.  We highlighted it:

The federal district courts docketed 303,563 civil cases in FY 2025, an increase of four percent from the prior year. In the ongoing earplug products liability multidistrict litigation (MDL), just 15 cases were filed in the Northern District of Florida in FY 2025, down from 23,624 the previous year. This MDL docket was the largest in history and has dominated civil filings since FY 2020. All other civil case filings increased 14 percent to 303,548.

Ideas for more ADR in 2026? You can read the full report at the link below.

Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy new year.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/year-end/2025year-endreport.pdf