After a slow start to 2026, the Mass Tort docket is heating up fast.

In this week’s Tort Talk, Marc Rioux and Joe Fantini break down a packed slate of major developments shaping the year ahead, including rare Supreme Court action, an important bellwether trial, and mounting pressure on defendants in ongoing litigation.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The Supreme Court’s decision on the Boy Scouts bankruptcy settlement appeal and what it means for survivor compensation
• What to watch next as the Supreme Court considers whether to take up the Roundup preemption appeal
• The first bellwether trial underway in the Uber Sex Assault MDL and why this case matters
• The EPA’s announcement that it is reassessing the safety of Paraquat and how that review could impact litigation and potential settlements

With pressure coming from the Supreme Court, the EPA, MDLs, and state courts, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in mass tort litigation.

Subscribe for weekly Tort Talk updates covering the most important rulings, trials, and trends in the mass tort world.

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00:00 – Intro and What’s Driving Mass Tort Momentum in 2026

00:45 – Supreme Court Decision on Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Appeal

02:25 – Roundup Appeal: What the Supreme Court May Do Next

04:00 – Uber Sex Assault MDL: First Bellwether Trial Underway

05:08 – Paraquat: EPA Reassesses Safety of the Herbicide

06:56 – Closing Thoughts and What to Expect Next in 2026

What happens when a trial lawyer stops overthinking and just hits record?

In this episode, Marc sits down in Los Angeles with Harry Nalbandyan, partner at Levin & Nalbandyan and host of Harry Handles It, to talk about the real value of content creation for lawyers (hint: it is not “becoming an influencer”).

They get into why podcasting is a cheat code for communication, leadership, and relationship-building, plus what changes when your firm scales from a scrappy team to 115 people. Harry shares hard-earned lessons on hiring, culture, developing A-players, and why the best leaders focus on making everyone around them better.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting until it’s perfect, this conversation is your reminder: Just handle it.

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00:00 – Introduction

01:34 – Inception of 'Harry Handles It' Podcast

03:57 – Mastering Communication Skills

11:43 – Content Creation Strategies for Lawyers

17:02 – Harry’s First Podcast Episode (Lessons Learned)

21:08 – Leadership and Team Dynamics in Law Firms

28:39 – Structuring a Multi-Practice Law Firm

30:25 – Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent

33:53 – The Importance of Culture and Transparency

38:41 – Freeing Yourself Up as a Leader and Investing in Capacity

42:29 – The 10-80-10 Principle for Leadership & Developing Talent

45:43 – Final Thoughts on Leadership and Growth

In the first episode of the year, Jon Robinson, Marc Rioux, and Joe Fantini kick off January Power Rankings, counting down the Top 10 mass torts your firm should have on its radar.

This month brings a major shakeup: Roundup falls from the top spot and there’s a new #1 to start the year. 

We also cover key inflection points coming fast, including Science Day in Hair Relaxer, bellwether trials in Uber Sex Abuse and Social Media Addiction, and a potential Supreme Court decision that could shape Roundup’s trajectory in 2026.

If you’re building or managing mass tort inventory, this is the quick, tactical overview to start the year.

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00:00 – Tort Talk is back: January 2026 Power Rankings begin

00:30 – #10 Toxic Baby Food: MDL expert ruling could change everything

01:30 – #9 Talcum Powder: largest active tort, bellwether pressure and 2026 settlement prediction

02:54 – #8 GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: vision loss vs GI injuries, case-count outlook and next steps

04:54 – #7 Roblox: new MDL, qualifying injury questions, and long-term exposure

06:18 – #6 Depo-Provera: FDA warning update weakens preemption argument

07:42 – #5 Uber Sex Abuse: bellwether trial next week and causation issues

08:56 – #4 Roundup: Supreme Court watch and why it slid this month

10:51 – #3 Social Media Addiction: early 2026 bellwethers and mounting pressure on Big Tech

12:33 – #2 Video Game Addiction: California JCCP momentum and settlement rumors

13:44 – One to Watch: Bair Hugger (3M) and rising trial pressure

14:58 – Wait and See: Tylenol appeal and possible revival

15:35 – #1 Hair Relaxer: Science Day and the new top-ranked mass tort

16:33 – NTL Miami preview: live Tort Talk + Jon & Marc Podcast

Asbestos litigation is one of the most demanding areas of plaintiff law. The timelines are urgent. The clients are gravely ill. The competition is intense.

And no firm handles more mesothelioma cases than The Gori Law Firm.

In this episode of The Jon and Marc Podcast, filmed live at MTMP, Sara Salger and Chris Layloff reveal how Gori became one of the top asbestos filers in the country and what it really takes to win these cases at scale.

Tune in and learn:

• How Gori scaled from 16 team members to nearly 200
• Why mesothelioma cases move faster than most mass torts
• How lung cancer claims fit into the asbestos landscape
• Why talc exposure reshaped the litigation
• The real economics behind seven-figure mesothelioma cases
• How to intake and fast track a case before it is too late

If you want to understand asbestos litigation, build a mesothelioma practice, or partner with the leaders in this space, this episode gives you the blueprint.

————————— Contents of this video —————————  

00:00 – Introduction

00:42 – Meet Sara Salger and Chris Layloff from The Gori Law Firm

02:54 – Growing from 16 staff to 200 and 7 offices

04:17 – How Gori recruits and trains legal talent

06:56 – The state of asbestos litigation in 2025

08:38 – Why every case is individually litigated

12:53 – The race against time with terminal clients

19:35 – The growing cost and competition for mesothelioma cases

22:46 – How to properly handle an asbestos intake

24:51 – Why Gori sends lawyers into the living room

28:13 – How Gori acquires asbestos cases

29:51 – Recommendations for building a referral network

31:44 – Talc and the new wave of asbestos exposure

34:14 – Understanding a mesothelioma diagnosis

36:21 – Implications of the link between talc and mesothelioma

38:10 – Asbestos litigation outside of the United States

42:08 – Why a third of mesothelioma victims never pursue claims

44:47 – Final advice: You need specialized partners in asbestos

Which moments made people pause instead of scrolling?

In this special edition of The Jon & Marc Podcast, we’re breaking down the 10 moments from 2025 that sparked the biggest conversations, strongest reactions, and most meaningful takeaways for law firm owners, marketers, and operators.

This short-form highlight episode pulls 10 standout clips from 10 different episodes, each focused on a real issue firms are navigating right now, from conferences and content to AI, community, and mass tort litigation.

If you missed an episode this year or want a sharp recap of what’s shaping the plaintiff bar heading into 2026, this is the place to start.

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00:11 – Dave Thomas: The real value of legal conferences

01:33 – Hunter Garnett: Why authentic content works

02:13 – Jerry Zhou: AI, law firm data, and responsible use

03:26 – Jon & Marc: Why Google is going to win in search

04:17 – Trudy Emlaw: Personalization, human touch, and what doesn’t scale

05:08 – Mike Bonamarte: Using AI to strengthen closing arguments

06:34 – Rob Levine: How law firms actually make more money

07:44 – Cassidy Lewis: Competing with national firms at the local level

09:17 – Eddie & Chuck Farah: A Rolling Stones–inspired marketing campaign

10:35 – Rick Meadow: Mass torts, video game addiction, and what’s coming next

Two major jury verdicts and several key rulings capped off a pivotal week in mass torts. In this edition of Tort Talk, Jon Robinson, Marc Rioux, and Joe Fantini unpack what each development means as we head into 2026.

Talc – $40M Ovarian Cancer Verdict

A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million in compensatory damages to two plaintiffs. J&J plans to appeal, but the result strengthens plaintiff momentum ahead of the 2026 bellwethers.

NEC – $32M Verdict Against Yale Hospital

A unique NEC case resulted in a $32 million verdict after a premature infant was fed a cow’s-milk supplement against the family’s instructions. This expands liability beyond manufacturers and signals a new avenue for hospital-based claims.

Toxic Baby Food – Daubert Week Concludes

A full week of Daubert hearings wrapped in the MDL following a surprising expert exclusion in California state court. Early read: plaintiffs may get several experts through, which could open the door to significant filings in 2026.

JPML — Three Major Decisions

The panel issued rulings on key emerging litigations:

• Weight Loss Vision Loss: MDL formed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with separate tracks for GI injuries and vision claims.

• Video Game Addiction: MDL request denied again; litigation now centers in California state court.

• Roblox Sexual Abuse: MDL granted and centralized in the Northern District of California, a strong venue for plaintiffs.

Tune in and learn why these decisions matter, how they shape docket strategy, and what plaintiff firms should watch closely in early 2026.

————————— Contents of this video ————————— 

00:00 – Intro: Final Tort Talk of 2025

00:15 – Talc: $40M Ovarian Cancer Verdict in Los Angeles

01:55 – NEC: $32M Verdict Against Yale Hospital

04:13 – Toxic Baby Food: Weeklong Daubert Hearing Wraps

05:20 – JPML: Vision Loss MDL, Video Game Addiction, and Roblox Sex Abuse

07:04 – Closing: Holiday Break and 2026 Preview

Authenticity is becoming the strongest competitive advantage in personal injury marketing.

In this episode, Jon sits down with Hunter Garnett to discuss how a small-market PI firm can grow fast by staying real, staying local, and staying focused on the right clients.

Hunter explains how he built a profitable practice by leaning into who he actually is, using simple video content, community presence, and a strong value system to generate real affinity in his market.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How authenticity outperforms high-production marketing
• Why TikTok can generate local cases faster than paid ads
• How to create “super fans” who drive long-term case volume
• Why small markets reward strong identity and clear positioning
• How to turn news stories into free reach and inbound cases
• The operational systems behind his scalable pre-lit team

If you want to grow a PI firm without trying to look like the big billboard players, this conversation is the blueprint.

For more information on Hunter and his firm, go to: www.gpinjurylaw.com

————————— Contents of this video —————————  

00:00 – Introducing Hunter Garnett

01:49 – Understanding Your Ideal Client

04:17 – Building Brand Affinity and Creating Superfans

07:19 – Leveraging Social Media for Client Connection

09:34 – The Importance of Storytelling in Law and Marketing

10:19 – Hunter’s Bullseye Strategy for Social Media Marketing

12:37 – The TikTok Video that Generated a Real Case

13:45 – One-Take Videos vs High-Production Content

17:38 – Navigating Paid Advertising and Marketing Strategies

22:15 – Maintaining Quality Operations with a Remote Team

24:33 – Turning Community Involvement into Video Marketing

29:06 – Hunter’s CTO and Implementing AI & Automation

33:35 – How Hunter Approaches Attribution Marketing

37:18 – Hunter’s Opinion on Lead Generation, PPC, and Brand Conquesting

38:51 – Final Thoughts on Sustainable Marketing Practices

The landscape continues to shift as Roundup edges closer to a Supreme Court ruling, while other major litigations face unexpected resistance. This week’s Tort Talk breaks down critical developments in Roundup, Zantac, Toxic Baby Food, and several MDL petitions now before the JPML.

Roundup: The Solicitor General has recommended that the Supreme Court take up Monsanto’s appeal on preemption. The ruling could determine whether failure-to-warn claims remain viable under state law, but other theories of liability may still move forward regardless of the outcome.

Zantac: After early wins in Delaware, plaintiffs were hit with another setback as the trial court denied efforts to submit revised expert reports. The ruling adopts a higher standard set by the Delaware Supreme Court and keeps the litigation on uncertain ground heading into 2026.

Toxic Baby Food: California state court excluded plaintiffs’ toxicology expert in a parallel proceeding. All eyes now shift to this week’s Daubert hearings in the MDL. If experts are permitted to testify in federal court, case filings could accelerate despite the state-level setback.

JPML: The December hearing focused on whether vision loss claims will be consolidated with existing gastrointestinal claims in the weight-loss drug MDL, and whether MDLs will be formed for Roblox sexual exploitation cases and video game addiction. Decisions are expected within two weeks.

Joe Fantini breaks down why these rulings matter, how they affect strategy, and which cases could see major movement as we head into 2026.

————————— Contents of this video ————————— 

00:00 – Intro: Tort Talks with Jon Robinson, Marc Rioux, and Joe Fantini

00:26 – Roundup: Solicitor General Recommends Supreme Court Review

02:51 – Zantac: Delaware Ruling Blocks New Expert Reports

04:31 – Toxic Baby Food: State Setback Ahead of Federal Daubert

07:05 – JPML: Weight-Loss Drugs, Roblox, and Video Game Petitions

08:38 – Closing and Year-End Outlook

Behind every fast-growing law firm is a strategy most people never see.

In this episode, Marc sits down with Trudy Emlaw, former CMO of Mike Morse Law Firm and current CMO of George Sink Injury Lawyers, to break down the playbook behind data-driven growth, brand building, and long-term community investment.

Discover how the country’s most strategic legal marketers think about growth, measure success, and turn brand trust into signed cases.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why brand matters more than “leads” in 2025
• The data every firm should track before scaling
• How community events generate long-term case volume
• When to build an in-house team vs. hire an agency
• How to balance data with creative instinct
• Why real marketing requires human touch in an AI world

If you want to understand how elite PI firms grow sustainably, predictably, and with real loyalty, this conversation is the roadmap.

————————— Contents of this video —————————  

00:00 – Introducing Trudy Emlaw

01:04 – Data-Driven Marketing: Lessons Learned

03:58 – Balancing Data and Creativity in Marketing

06:04 – The Evolution of Trudy’s Role at Mike Morse Law Firm

09:15 – In-House vs. Agency Marketing: Finding the Right Balance

11:57 – Creative Marketing: Thinking Outside the Box

13:25 – How to Make an Effective TV Ad

14:18 – Community Engagement as a Marketing Strategy

19:11 – Investing in Community for Long-Term Success

21:06 – Branding vs. Direct Response Marketing

25:23 – The Future of Marketing: Personalization and Automation

The Tort Talks Power Rankings return for December 2025, as Jon Robinson, Marc Rioux, and mass tort strategist Joe Fantini break down the Top 10 mass torts to watch right now.

From platform-era claims against Roblox and video games to legacy giants like Roundup and talc, this month’s rankings blend high-momentum opportunities for firms with major long-term litigation outcomes set to shape 2026.

🎯 December Power Rankings:

🔟 Talcum Powder – First post-bankruptcy trial underway in California; over 70,000 cases already filed

9️⃣ Depo-Provera – Preemption ruling pending; filings spike to meet court order

8️⃣ Weight Loss Drugs (GLP-1) – GI injury litigation grows as rare vision loss cases accelerate

7️⃣ Toxic Baby Food – Daubert hearing this week; strong upside if plaintiffs prevail

6️⃣ Roblox – Horrific allegations involving minors; MDL likely after December JPML hearing

5️⃣ Uber Sexual Assault – First MDL trial set for January; 3,000+ claims pending

4️⃣ Social Media Addiction – Bellwether in 2026; tech CEOs expected to testify

3️⃣ Video Game Addiction – Huge claimant pool, deep-pocket defendants, and strong liability posture

2️⃣ Hair Relaxer – 11,000+ cases filed; key science rulings and bellwether path ahead

1️⃣ Roundup – Bayer withdraws appeals, signals settlement strategy, and targets 2026 resolution

👀 Honorable Mentions:

• Tylenol – Second Circuit questioning suggests the MDL could be revived
• Online Gambling – Early filings and addiction criteria emerging; JPML action expected in 2026
  

⚖️ What this means for firms:

The litigation landscape is shifting toward platform liability, while legacy torts like Roundup and talc move into high-pressure settlement territory. These rankings spotlight where firms should look for new intakes, where they should double down, and which cases may peak in 2026.

————————— Contents of this video ————————— 

00:00 – Intro: December 2025 Power Rankings

00:27 – #10 Talcum Powder

01:42 – #9 Depo-Provera

03:05 – #8 GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

04:28 – #7 Toxic Baby Food

05:21 – #6 Roblox

06:38 – #5 Uber Sexual Assault

07:33 – #4 Social Media Addiction

08:53 – #3 Video Game Addiction

10:13 – #2 Hair Relaxer

11:22 – Honorable Mentions: Tylenol and Online Gambling

14:22 – #1 Roundup

15:23 – Closing and 2026 Preview