The legal landscape in 2025 promises to be shaped by ongoing high-stakes mass tort cases and the emergence of novel claims targeting industries traditionally less associated with litigation. Below are some of the top cases expected to define the year.
PFAS and ‘Forever Chemicals’
Major chemical companies have already agreed to settlements exceeding $11 billion with U.S. water systems over allegations of contaminating water supplies with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite these significant settlements, litigation is far from over.
Personal injury claims related to PFAS exposure—especially those linked to firefighting foam—continue to dominate. Thousands of cases remain centralized in federal court in South Carolina, with bellwether trials scheduled for next year. Many plaintiffs allege that exposure to PFAS caused cancer, particularly among firefighters and individuals working at airports where firefighting foam is routinely used in training exercises.
The scope of PFAS-related litigation is also expanding. A proposed class action filed in 2024 targeted major chemical companies for PFAS contamination in carpets, raising concerns about exposure through everyday consumer products, including food packaging. The full scale of liability for PFAS remains uncertain, but the issue’s pervasiveness suggests a growing legal battle.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Lawsuits against social media giants like Meta, ByteDance (TikTok), and Google surged in 2024, with many clearing early legal hurdles. These cases, brought by families and school districts, accuse the companies of fostering youth addiction and mental health crises through their algorithms.
In a major development, the California federal judge presiding over a consolidated multidistrict litigation has scheduled the first bellwether trials for October 2025. These trials will test whether legal theories traditionally used in toxic substance cases can successfully be applied to social media algorithms. The outcomes could pave the way for significant settlements or shape future claims against technology companies.
Social media companies have denied the allegations, emphasizing their efforts to protect users.
Bayer’s Roundup Weedkiller
Despite a $10.9 billion settlement in 2020 to address claims that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer, Bayer still faces over 50,000 unresolved lawsuits. The litigation centers on glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, which plaintiffs claim is carcinogenic.
Bayer, which acquired Roundup in its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto, denies that glyphosate causes cancer. Although the company has successfully defended many recent cases, massive verdicts totaling over $1 billion—albeit reduced on appeal—highlight the litigation’s high stakes.
The company hopes to leverage a split in circuit court decisions to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a ruling that federal law preempts the claims. Roundup trials scheduled for 2025 could influence whether Bayer continues to fight the lawsuits or seeks another settlement.
Baby Formula and Preterm Infant Health
Litigation involving baby formula used in neonatal intensive care units has captured attention following multimillion-dollar verdicts against Abbott and Reckitt Benckiser’s Mead Johnson. Plaintiffs allege that formula for premature infants caused necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious and often fatal bowel disease.
While the companies have successfully defended some cases, nearly 1,000 lawsuits remain pending. The outcomes could have far-reaching implications—not only for the companies involved but also for medical practices and the availability of critical neonatal care products.
Doctors and the defendants argue that the claims are based on flawed science, asserting that while breast milk reduces the risk of NEC, formula does not cause the disease.
Emerging: Processed Food Litigation
In late 2024, a groundbreaking lawsuit was filed by an 18-year-old Pennsylvania man against major food companies. He alleges that the addictive nature of “ultra-processed” foods led to his diagnoses of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
The suit faces significant challenges, including the lack of a clear definition for “ultra-processed food” and an absence of specific harmful substances cited in the complaint. Nonetheless, the case highlights growing attention to the health risks associated with processed foods.
Whether this lawsuit sparks a broader wave of litigation or fizzles out will depend on its ability to overcome these hurdles.
Looking Ahead
The coming year promises to be pivotal for these high-profile mass tort cases. Established claims over toxic exposure continue to evolve, while innovative legal theories are being tested in courts. Whether traditional industries like chemicals and agriculture or newer targets like technology and food products, 2025 is set to be a defining year for mass tort litigation.
