What is a Short Form Complaint?

A Short Form Complaint is a streamlined legal filing used in mass tort or multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases. Instead of requiring each plaintiff to draft a full-length complaint from scratch, courts or coordinating counsel provide a standardized document that plaintiffs can quickly complete and file.

This format allows for the efficient processing of hundreds—or even thousands—of similar claims while still preserving each plaintiff’s right to be heard individually.

How is a short form complaint used in mass torts?

Short form complaints are common in mass torts involving defective drugs, medical devices, toxic exposures, or other products that harm many people in a similar way. Once a master complaint is approved by the court, individual plaintiffs can adopt its allegations by referencing it and checking boxes or adding specific facts to a short form.

This process helps conserve court resources and simplifies case management without sacrificing a plaintiff’s legal rights.

• References a master complaint that outlines common allegations.

• Used in MDLs and mass tort cases where many plaintiffs allege similar harms.

• Plaintiffs fill in personal details, such as injury type, usage dates, and damages.

• Speeds up filing while ensuring consistency across hundreds of lawsuits.

What information is included in a short form complaint?

A short form complaint typically contains a combination of pre-written legal claims and blanks or checkboxes for the plaintiff to customize their case. Plaintiffs may identify the product or drug at issue, date(s) of exposure or injury, and which counts or causes of action they are asserting.

It’s designed to ensure each plaintiff’s specific claims are clear while avoiding repetitive filings.

• Personal information (name, address, etc.)

• Product or drug used, including dates and dosage if applicable

• Injury or diagnosis claimed

• Specific counts adopted from the master complaint (e.g., negligence, failure to warn)

• Jurisdictional information relevant to venue or transfer

What are the advantages of a short form complaint?

Short form complaints reduce the time, cost, and complexity of filing multiple similar lawsuits. They allow injured individuals to participate in mass tort litigation without the burden of drafting a full complaint. This approach also benefits courts by reducing redundant filings and creating uniformity across claims.

Attorneys handling high volumes of clients in an MDL benefit from this structure as well.

• Easier and faster to file, especially for firms handling many plaintiffs.

• Reduces legal fees and administrative time for each client.

• Creates consistency in claims, which helps with judicial efficiency.

• Still allows for individualized case development down the line.

Does a short form complaint limit your legal rights?

No. Filing a short form complaint does not limit your legal rights. It simply adopts the broader legal allegations already laid out in the master complaint, while customizing key facts about your case. Plaintiffs can still pursue individual discovery, present evidence, and receive individualized settlements or verdicts.

In fact, it helps preserve your rights while participating in a larger litigation framework.

• Does not waive your right to pursue damages or go to trial.

• You can still present individual evidence, such as medical records or testimony.

• Court may later require additional documentation beyond the complaint.

• Filing a short form properly preserves your claim under applicable laws.

Conclusion

A Short Form Complaint is a practical legal tool used in mass tort and MDL cases to efficiently file claims that share common facts. It simplifies the litigation process while still allowing plaintiffs to provide the individualized details necessary for their case. If you’re part of a mass tort, this format helps streamline your claim without compromising your rights.