About the new and improved Hot Tort Report
Being industry experts, we pride ourselves on keeping our finger on the pulse of all things Multi District Litigation. This predominantly consists of providing our subscribers with competitive insights into where the money is being spent in hopes of informing your blueprint for advertising strategies. These cases can be highly lucrative, but are difficult to acquire, requiring significant investment and patience to secure high-value cases.
We’ve been working hard on an algorithm to deliver more than just monthly TV spends and are proud to announce that we are ready to unveil our HTR 2.0.
This new list offers an overview of dollars spent across TV, Meta, PPC, and more, assigning a score to each tort based on what we, as leaders in the law firm advertising space, are witnessing across these various platforms.
The Hot Tort Report:
July 2026
The Hottest in Mass Tort Spending: June 2026
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Published: July, 2026. Advertising spend from multiple sources for a recent 30 day period.
If you have any questions, please contact us at national@whitehardt.com
#1 Talcum Powder
Talcum Powder caught fire in June, taking the #1 spot with strong movement in TV and WHii while Meta and PPC held steady. The biggest legal development was a defense win for Johnson & Johnson. A Los Angeles jury rejected claims that J&J’s talc-based powders were contaminated with asbestos and caused ovarian cancer in 3 women who later died from the disease.
CPA: $940
CPL: $470
For common criteria, please contact us.
#2 Birth Control Injections
Birth Control Injections stayed hot in June as the Depo-Provera litigation moved toward a potential global resolution for eligible plaintiffs. In the federal MDL, the court noted that plaintiffs’ leadership and Pfizer, Pharmacia LLC, and Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. LLC have reached a global agreement that may allow qualifying plaintiffs to resolve their claims. With some cases potentially moving toward resolution and others still active, this tort remains one of the strongest performers heading into July.
CPA: $5,169
CPL: $3,050
For common criteria, please contact us.
#3 Diabetes Meds for Weight Loss
The Diabetes Meds for Weight Loss tort held steady near the top of the report, showing that interest in GLP-1 claims is not cooling off. These cases continue to focus on allegations involving drugs such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and similar medications used for diabetes management or weight loss.
The claims generally center on serious gastrointestinal injuries and other complications allegedly experienced after use, including newer claims of vision loss. Even with a slight dip in WHii, the category remains highly visible and competitive, especially with Meta activity still strong.
CPA: $91 – $751
CPL: $68 – $563
Common Criteria: Took a prescription diabetes drug for weight loss (e.g. Ozempic®, Mounjaro®), discontinued use of the drug, and experienced one or more gastrointestinal disorders at least 30 days after your first dose.
#4 Roundup®
Roundup® stayed in the top 5, but June brought a major defense-side spark. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Monsanto in a major Roundup® liability case. The ruling gives Monsanto and parent company Bayer a significant win as the company continues to face thousands of lawsuits from people who claim Roundup® caused their cancers. While TV activity cooled to 0 this month, the litigation itself remains hot because the decision could reshape pending claims, settlement strategy, and future pesticide-labeling lawsuits.
CPA: $1,238
CPL: $743
For common criteria, please contact us.
#5 Social Media Addiction
Social Media Addiction remains one of the most closely watched torts, even as TV activity cooled this month. Meta reportedly lobbied Congress for legal immunity from child-harm claims tied to social media products while continuing to face thousands of lawsuits from young users and their families.
At the same time, YouTube settled a lawsuit brought by a 16-year-old who alleged that social media use caused addiction, lost sleep, depression, and anxiety. TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are still expected to face trial in July. With thousands of claims pending in California state and federal courts, plus earlier verdicts and settlements already on the board, this tort is still generating serious heat.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, or common criteria, please contact us.
#6 Roblox Child Abuse
Roblox Child Abuse held completely steady this month, with no movement across WHii, TV, Meta, or PPC. The tort remains driven by digital activity and by broader concerns over child safety, platform design, and unsafe interactions on gaming and social platforms.
One key case involves a 13-year-old boy who claims he was groomed and solicited through Roblox and Discord by an adult predator who was later arrested for crimes against more than 2 dozen children. The lawsuit alleges that the platforms were defectively designed and falsely marketed as safe for young users. If the case moves forward, it could affect age restrictions, private messaging, chat features, and how platforms allow children to interact with strangers online.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#7 Takata Airbag Recall
The Takata Airbag Recall tort is currently fueled by steady TV activity and renewed movement across WHii and Meta. The category remains a strong legacy tort because recalled Takata airbags continue to pose safety risks years after the initial recalls. With TV activity still at full strength and unrepaired vehicles remaining on the road, Takata continues to send off sparks for firms watching auto defect claims.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#8 Rideshare Assault
Rideshare Assault held steady in June, but the litigation and safety conversation are heating up. Uber announced stricter U.S. background check policies after reports that the company had approved drivers with certain older criminal convictions, including violent felonies, in some states. The updated policy permanently disqualifies drivers with convictions for violent felonies, sexual offenses, stalking, and strangulation-related crimes. New background checks will now look at everywhere a driver has lived.
The timing is significant. Uber is facing thousands of sexual assault claims in federal court, with more claims pending in state courts. Lawyers are preparing for the next federal bellwether trial, currently set for September 2026, after earlier trials produced mixed results. With new safety policies, active MDL proceedings, and another bellwether on the calendar, this tort is producing steady heat even without TV activity.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#9 Hernia Mesh
Hernia Mesh made it to the top 10 despite a drop in TV, helped by new movement in Meta and WHii along with several active litigation developments. In the Covidien hernia mesh MDL, a federal judge partially denied Covidien’s motion for summary judgment in the first bellwether case and reserved ruling on other issues.
In international news, a new Ventralight ST lawsuit against C.R. Bard and group proceedings approved in Scotland against Covidien LP involving more than 80 people who received the company’s hernia mesh products. The Scotland ruling does not decide whether Covidien was negligent or whether any product was defective, but it does allow the group action to move forward.
Common Criteria: Hernia mesh surgery from 2000—present; suffered from one of the following: Perforation, Bowel Obstruction, Mesh Erosion, Mesh Contraction, Torn Mesh, Sepsis/Infection, Granuloma, Adhesion, Dehiscence that resulted in a removal/repair, scheduled or future.
For metrics such as CPA and CPL, please contact us.
#10 Clergy Sexual Abuse
Clergy Sexual Abuse rounded out the top 10 this month, driven primarily by strong Meta activity. The biggest update came from New York, where about 1,300 plaintiffs who allege they were abused as minors by priests or lay staff of the Archdiocese of New York are weighing an $800 million settlement offer.
Under the reported offer, each plaintiff could choose a one-time lump sum of $250,000 or go before an arbitrator to seek a higher payment. However, the deal would require all eligible plaintiffs to agree. If it falls through and the archdiocese files for bankruptcy, the litigation could face years of uncertainty.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
Mesothelioma
You may be noticing a tort missing from our new report. While Mesothelioma continues to dominate the competition when it comes to spend levels, Whitehardt finds that this tort is its own niche animal. These cases can be extremely fruitful, but hard to come by, requiring a high buy-in to get in the game and patience when landing that ringer of a case. We believe that Meso will remain a constant for some time, but in regards to many of the other drugs and devices we focus on in this monthly report, we’ve decided to move it to its own category. If you are interested in hearing the latest news on Meso or how Whitehardt may be currently seeking these cases, you can contact us here.
Whitehardt will continue to track meso spending from month to month, so if you are interested in ongoing meso spending, please reach out to us directly. Going forward, we will be excluding meso from these tort reports.