The Mass Torts Made Perfect Spring conference just wrapped at the Wynn, and this one felt different. The chatter in the hallways, the standing-room-only breakouts, the late-night bar talk—it all pointed to a shift in where the mass tort world is heading. A few dockets dominated the narrative, others faded into the background, and everyone’s trying to figure out what to double down on before Q2 gets away from them.
Here’s what had the biggest heat—and what we’re watching next:
Depo-Provera: The Tort with Real Firepower
You couldn’t walk ten feet at MTMP without someone bringing up Depo. Between the emerging science around bone loss and long-term harm, and the sheer volume of women affected over the last two decades, this docket is commanding serious attention. Firms were actively comparing intake strategies and media buys, and more than one heavyweight suggested this could rival the scale of early TVM and Essure. If you’re not in now, you’re behind.
Video Game Addiction: From Buzz to Business
This wasn’t just a novelty topic this year—it’s evolving fast. As cases build around kids becoming addicted to video games, especially with platforms like Fortnite and Roblox, there’s a push to hold publishers accountable for intentionally gamified behavioral loops. The plaintiff bar is getting savvier on framing this like tobacco and opioids—targeting addiction through manipulation, especially in vulnerable minors. This one’s a long arc, but the firms getting in now are laying serious groundwork.
AFFF: A Litigation Engine with Staying Power
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) was still a centerpiece. Even with big settlements already in motion, there’s a long tail here. Water contamination, latent injuries, occupational exposure—this is a docket that continues to yield volume. But MTMP’s smarter firms are starting to pivot their messaging toward who was left out of early resolutions. Expect a second wave of marketing to push that narrative hard over the summer.
Rideshare Sexual Assault: Quietly Becoming One of the Most Serious Dockets in the Space
If you know what to look for, you saw the momentum here. The MDL is heating up, filings are accelerating, and survivors are speaking out. The firms leading this charge aren’t just litigating—they’re shaping how future corporate liability is understood in the context of tech-enabled transportation. Blue Sky Legal is already deep in this space, and we’re seeing intake engagement climb steadily, especially as awareness grows and media coverage expands.
California Institutional Abuse: A Surge Year
The deadline extension in California has created a wave of opportunity—but also risk. MTMP saw serious discussion around filtering viable claims quickly, verifying exposure and organizational responsibility, and avoiding high-friction intake traps. This is one of those campaigns where the difference between smart targeting and wasteful media is stark. Blue Sky Legal is currently running scaled outreach here and helping firms navigate volume without drowning in junk leads.
Suboxone: Deadline is the Driver
This one’s being defined by timing. The three-year SOL in several states is forcing firms to move fast or miss out. Expect an aggressive Q2 and Q3 push as firms look to scoop up claimants before they go dark. Media needs to be precise, and intake teams have to be prepped for urgency.
Oxbryta: Still Early, but Eyes Are On It
Oxbryta litigation is very much in its infancy, but it came up in multiple side conversations at MTMP. The concern around off-label use and adverse outcomes in children is beginning to attract legal and medical scrutiny. The firms exploring this space are doing so quietly—but expect it to break out if even a handful of key cases start to gain traction.
Hair Relaxer: A Surprisingly Quiet Room
With all the data linking chemical hair straighteners to cancers, it was surprising how little airtime this docket got. Is it a fatigue issue? Media saturation? Confusion about criteria? Possibly all three. The science remains strong, but the focus at MTMP was clearly elsewhere. This might need a reset on the messaging side to come back into relevance.
Here’s the Real Takeaway:
MTMP is a barometer, but it’s also a filter. There’s always noise, always hype—but underneath that, the real players are already repositioning. The firms that win this year will be the ones that act fast, but also know where not to waste time.
At Blue Sky Legal, we’re already running scaled campaigns in the highest-opportunity dockets—Rideshare Sexual Assault, California Institutional Abuse, Depo-Provera, and emerging categories like Oxbryta. We combine compliant creative, media buying precision, and intake systems that actually work to deliver real signed cases—not just leads.
We don’t just run ads. We drive growth. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start scaling, let’s build.
