Collection agencies, debt buyers and credit granters are often under siege, forced to defend against identical claims on multiple jurisdictional fronts, regardless of whether the claims are on behalf of an individual or a putative class. One strategy for consolidating the defense of identical claims is to file a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on MDL to transfer claims to a single venue.

The MDL Panel was created under 28 USC 1407 and its job is to consider whether litigation pending in multiple federal courts involves common questions of fact that make it appropriate to consolidate and coordinate proceedings. The primary purpose of MDL is to centralize litigation to avoid duplicative and costly discovery, conserve resources and prevent inconsistent court rulings.

In the latest episode of the Debt Collection Drill Moss & Barnett attorneys Mike Poncin and Issa Moe discuss the potential application of MDL to consumer litigation, the procedure for seeking MDL, and the risks/benefits associated with MDL.