Introducing our new and improved Hot Tort Report
Being industry experts, we pride ourselves on keeping our finger on the pulse on all things Multi District Litigation. This predominantly consists of providing our subscribers with competitive insights into where the money is being spent in hopes to inform your blueprint for advertising strategies.
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 compiles an overview of dollars deployed on TV, Meta campaigns, PPC presence, and Whitehardt’s Institutional Insights indicator, which assigns 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:
April 2025
The Hottest in Mass Tort Spending: March 2025
#1 Birth Control Injections
Featured Tort
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Published: April, 2025. Advertising spend from multiple sources for a recent 30 day period.
If you have any questions, please contact Bails at bails@whitehardt.com
#1 Birth Control Injections
Coming in at #1 once again, this tort saw a modest score increase driven by gains in both TV activity and WHii. Digital engagement remains maxed out, reinforcing its position as our featured tort.
Discovery is underway, procedural groundwork is taking shape, and the litigation continues to move forward at a steady pace, positioning this MDL for real momentum in the months ahead.
Firms looking to enter or expand in this space should be thinking strategically. Whitehardt can help you navigate what’s next and position your firm for success as this litigation continues.
CPA: $1,218 – $7,578
CPL: $609 – $3,789
For criteria, please contact us.
#2 Roundup®
The Roundup® mass tort took back its 2nd-place spot this month, backed by perfect scores in both TV and PPC advertising.
A Georgia jury recently awarded over $2 billion in punitive damages—one of the largest Roundup® verdicts to date—to a couple who alleged that exposure to the weedkiller caused their cancer. Bayer has stated it will appeal the decision, but the scale of the verdict may have turned the heat up in this high-profile litigation.
CPA: $1,333
CPL: $800
For criteria, please contact us.
#3 Paraquat
Slipping from 2nd to 3rd place this month, the Paraquat mass tort saw a notable drop in Meta activity, offset by a modest increase in TV ads. WHii and PPC scores held strong, though, and with the litigation timeline moving forward, this tort remains highly active.
CPA: $2,609
CPL: $1,174
Common Criteria: Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease or experiencing Parkinson’s-like symptoms after exposure to Paraquat.
#4 Video Game Addiction
The Video Game Addiction mass tort surged into the top five this month, gaining two full points after a sharp rise in Meta and PPC activity.
This litigation centers on allegations that major gaming companies intentionally design addictive features to keep users, particularly minors, engaged in harmful ways. With advertising now active across Meta, PPC, and even TV, there’s clear momentum building. Whitehardt is here to deliver tailored solutions for engaging with this emerging tort.
CPA: $78
CPL: $35
Common Criteria: Child must be under 18 and spend 4+ hours per day, 5+ days per week, playing Minecraft, Fortnite, GTA 5, or Call of Duty. The child must also experience one or more of the following: addiction, poor school performance, school dropout, cognitive or developmental delays, chronic depression or anxiety, or self-harm/suicidal behavior.
#5 California Wildfires
Los Angeles County, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, alleging that the company’s negligence contributed to the devastating Eaton Fire.
Climbing four spots from last month, this tort saw sharp gains in WHii and Meta activity. While PPC dipped to zero, interest in this litigation is clearly intensifying.
As affected communities seek accountability, this tort is gaining traction fast. Now is the time to begin connecting with those in need of legal representation.
CPL: $408
For metrics such as CPA and criteria, please contact us.
#6 Diabetes Meds For Weight Loss
The Diabetes Medications for Weight Loss mass tort dipped slightly this month, dropping one spot in the rankings despite continued growth in Meta and WHii. Digital remains the primary arena for this evolving tort.
CPA: $180 – $240
CPL: $90 – $120
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.
#8 Oxbryta®
The Oxbryta® mass tort makes its first appearance on the Hot Tort Report, following a steady increase in advertising momentum over the past few months. With rising WHii and PPC scores and growing Meta activity, this tort is beginning to gain real traction.
Oxbryta® (voxelotor), originally approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway to treat sickle cell disease, was voluntarily withdrawn in late 2024. Plaintiffs allege they suffered economic harm from purchasing a drug later linked to potential safety concerns, including an imbalance in adverse events, without adequate disclosure or warning.
This tort is emerging as one to watch closely as it develops both in courtrooms and across advertising channels.
CPA: $1,198
CPL: $599
Common Criteria: Have taken Oxbryta® and been diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
#10 Infant Formula
The Infant Formula mass tort took a significant hit this month, dropping from 4th to 10th place with a 2.9-point decrease in total score. While TV spending dipped slightly, the sharpest decline came in Meta activity, signaling a pullback in digital advertising.
A renewed push in outreach or legal action could quickly shift it back up the list.
Common Criteria: Premature child born after 2002, severe injuries related to diagnosis of NEC, was fed formula in hospital. Infant was fed cow-milk-based formula (okay if unsure of brand) AND was diagnosed with NEC in or after the year 2002. If not premature, infant was diagnosed with NEC within 3 months after birth AND had surgery.
For metrics such as CPA and CPL, 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 me directly. Going forward, we will be excluding meso from these tort reports.
#9 Social Media
The Social Media mass tort continues to push forward, with a strong WHii score indicating growing legal interest, even as advertising remains relatively light across TV, Meta, and PPC.
Momentum persists despite challenges. A recent ruling dismissed a large portion of a federal suit against major platforms like Meta and TikTok, but the court allowed claims related to product liability and content algorithm design to proceed. This signals that while not all legal avenues are open, the core of the litigation is still alive.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.