The federal MDL alleging prenatal acetaminophen use causes autism and ADHD in children was dismissed in September 2023 after Judge Denise Cote excluded all plaintiffs’ general causation experts under Daubert. Without general causation, all cases fail as a matter of law. Some state court cases survive but face significant headwinds. This is effectively a dead mass tort at the federal level.
The Daubert ruling found plaintiffs’ causation experts were unreliable. The science on acetaminophen and autism/ADHD is disputed — observational studies show correlation but multiple confounders exist. After MDL dismissal, this tort is not recommended for new campaigns.
MDL 3043 was dismissed in September 2023 after Judge Denise Cote excluded all plaintiffs' general causation experts under Daubert. Without general causation, all federal cases failed. Some state court actions survive but face the same causation headwind.