Developments in Hair Relaxer Lawsuits: Dismissal Rights, Discovery Disputes, and Case Filings
As of April 2, 2024, a significant dispute has emerged regarding plaintiffs’ requests to dismiss or amend their lawsuits without prejudice before the defendants respond, a move opposed by the defendants. Both sides accuse each other of obstructing standard Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) procedures. Meanwhile, the selection of another Special Master is imminent, pending conflict of interest checks, with a Joint Status Report due shortly to address pre-trial discovery methods. Despite initial high filings, only 53 new lawsuits have joined the MDL in the last month, bringing the total to 8,387 pending cases.
