Trial-Tested Mass Tort Attorney
Last updated on September 19, 2024
At the Law Offices of John H. Howard, we are dedicated to fighting for the injured nationwide with a focus on Ventura, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. That dedication has included representing numerous plaintiffs in some of the most notable mass tort cases in Southern California’s recent history.
How Mass Tort Claims Differ From Class-Action Lawsuits
Most Californians are familiar with class-action lawsuits, but mass torts are not as well known. They are similar but have some important differences. In a class action, all the plaintiffs suffered the same harm from the same source. Therefore, they can be consolidated into one lawsuit, pending a judge’s approval. The group of plaintiffs has the advantage of numbers and pooled resources, but each plaintiff has less control throughout the litigation.
By contrast, mass tort claims are groups of individual lawsuits that make similar allegations. Typically, they are related to the same source of harm (like a mass transit accident), but victim harms do not need to be identical or nearly identical. Also, each plaintiff is individually represented, often by the same attorney or group of attorneys. Mass tort claims are highly efficient and cost-effective to plaintiffs because much of the research and prep done for one case is relevant to others as well.
Notable Mass Tort Litigation Actions
Along with dedicated members of our staff, attorney John H. Howard has represented clients in mass tort matters including injuries, deaths and property damage related to those situations below.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are weather events that have the potential to cause severe and widespread damage, harm and loss of life. These events have become more common in recent years and can occur out of the blue, though some are predictable, seasonal risks. Common types of natural disasters include earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, storms and tornadoes.
Some natural disaster cases that our attorney has handled include:
- The December 2017 Thomas Fire that burned nearly 282,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
- The November 2018 Woolsey Fire that burned nearly 100,000 acres
- The October 2019 Maria Fire that burned nearly 10,000 acres
Large-Scale Catastrophes
Large-scale catastrophes are cataclysmic occurrences – that are not natural events – that result in widespread suffering. Whether they happen on purpose or by accident, these incidents are generally caused by human error, malice or negligence. Examples of large-scale catastrophes include airplane crashes, boat and cruise ship accidents, bus accidents, mass shootings, and train crashes and derailments.
Some large-scale catastrophe cases that attorney Howard has handled include:
- Numerous train crashes, including the 2008 Chatsworth Metrolink crash that killed 25 people and injured more than 100 others
- Bus crashes and other mass transit accidents
After suffering injuries in – or losing a loved one to – a natural disaster or large-scale catastrophe, you may want to seek legal help immediately. We are committed to protecting victims of these events in mass tort cases. While he represents individual clients as a solo personal injury lawyer, attorney Howard is also of counsel with the law firm of Lowthorp Richards LLP. He typically litigates mass tort claims in collaboration with these and other legal colleagues. No matter the size of your personal injury or wrongful death claim, you can be confident that your case will be in good hands.
Learn More About Your Legal Options During A Free Case Evaluation
From our office in Oxnard, we serve clients nationwide and throughout the Tri-Counties. Whether you think that you may have an individual claim or were one of many injured under the same circumstances, we will take the time to listen to your story and explain your legal options. For a consultation, call us at 805-309-9296 or submit an online contact form.