MDL 3060 Lawsuit Update: Where Things Stand in 2026

Last updated: March 2026

What Is MDL Litigation?

MDL stands for Multidistrict Litigation — a federal procedure that consolidates thousands of similar lawsuits from across the country into a single court for pre-trial proceedings. MDL consolidation does not mean all cases are merged into one. Each plaintiff retains their individual case and seeks individual compensation based on their specific damages.

MDL consolidation is used when many people across many states have similar claims against the same defendants arising from the same product or practice. By centralizing pretrial activity — discovery, expert witness development, motions — the MDL process saves time and resources for both the courts and the parties.

Hair relaxer cancer cases were consolidated into MDL 3060 in February 2023 by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Why the Northern District of Illinois?

The Northern District of Illinois was selected as the transferee court for MDL 3060 for several reasons. Chicago is a major legal hub, and the Northern District has significant experience with complex mass tort MDL cases. Several of the defendant manufacturers also have significant business ties to the Chicago area.

The Bellwether Process

In MDL litigation, bellwether cases are a small group of representative claims selected for early trial to help both sides understand how juries might respond to the evidence. The results of bellwether trials do not bind other plaintiffs, but they strongly influence settlement negotiations.

Judge Rowland has selected 32 bellwether cases from the thousands filed. These cases are currently in active discovery — both sides are exchanging documents, taking depositions, and preparing expert reports. The outcome of these initial cases will help shape the trajectory of the broader litigation.

Daubert Hearings — Mid-2026

Daubert hearings are a critical milestone in product liability cases. Named after the Supreme Court case Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993), these hearings determine whether expert witness testimony — including scientific and medical experts — meets the legal standards for admission at trial.

In the hair relaxer litigation, Daubert hearings will determine whether plaintiffs' experts can testify that hair relaxers cause uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids — the core causation issue in the case. The NIH Sister Study and other peer-reviewed research supporting this connection will be central to these hearings.

Daubert hearings are scheduled for mid-2026. The outcome will be pivotal for the litigation's direction.

Punitive Damages — Approved September 2024

In September 2024, Judge Rowland issued a significant ruling: punitive damages are available in the hair relaxer cancer cases. This ruling means that if plaintiffs prove at trial that the manufacturers acted with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of consumers, juries can award damages beyond actual compensatory damages — punitive damages designed to punish the defendants and deter future misconduct.

The punitive damages ruling significantly increases potential exposure for the defendant manufacturers and has been a factor in ongoing settlement discussions.

No Settlement Yet — Why This Matters for Claimants

As of March 2026, no global settlement has been reached in MDL 3060. This is important for potential claimants to understand:

• Claims can still be filed. The litigation is in active pre-trial phases and new plaintiffs continue to join every week.
• Earlier filings may have advantages. In mass tort settlements, case filings are typically counted by their date. Filing earlier generally places you in a better position in any eventual compensation structure.
• Don't wait for a settlement announcement to act. By the time a settlement is announced, the filing window for new claims may close quickly.

Timeline of Key Events