About the new and improved Hot Tort Report
Being industry experts, we pride ourselves on keeping our finger on the pulse of all things Multi District Litigation. This predominantly consists of providing our subscribers with competitive insights into where the money is being spent in hopes of informing your blueprint for advertising strategies. These cases can be highly lucrative, but are difficult to acquire, requiring significant investment and patience to secure high-value cases.
We’ve been working hard on an algorithm to deliver more than just monthly TV spends and are proud to announce that we are ready to unveil our HTR 2.0.
This new list offers an overview of dollars spent across TV, Meta, PPC, and more, assigning a score to each tort based on what we, as leaders in the law firm advertising space, are witnessing across these various platforms.
The Hot Tort Report:
March 2026
The Hottest in Mass Tort Spending: February 2026
Social Media Addiction
Featured Tort
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Published: March, 2026. Advertising spend from multiple sources for a recent 30 day period.
If you have any questions, please contact us at national@whitehardt.com
#1 Social Media Addiction
Social Media Addiction surged to the top of the February rankings, climbing nearly 3 points and leaping from 7th place last month to #1. The movement was driven overwhelmingly by Meta activity, which maxed out alongside strong WHii signals tied to courtroom momentum and media coverage.
The catalyst? A closely watched bellwether trial that is underway in Los Angeles, where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has taken the stand. The case centers on allegations that platforms were intentionally designed to maximize youth engagement despite internal knowledge of potential mental health impacts. Snap and TikTok settled ahead of trial, but Meta and YouTube are proceeding before a jury, a dynamic that is intensifying scrutiny and fueling advertiser interest.
From an advertising perspective, February’s spike reflects firms’ positioning ahead of possible ripple effects.
CPA: $772
CPL: $386
For common criteria, please contact us.
#2 Birth Control Injections
Birth Control Injections came within striking distance of the top spot this month, finishing just one-tenth of a point behind Social Media Addiction. After sitting in fifth place last month, this 2.6-point jump reflects renewed advertiser confidence and sustained litigation momentum.
Digital continues to lead the charge. Meta activity maxed out at 5.0, with PPC adding additional lift. TV remains inactive, but that absence hasn’t slowed performance. This is a firmly digital-driven campaign right now.
On the litigation side, the Depo-Provera MDL continues to advance with more than 2,200 cases pending and expert discovery underway. Supplemental preemption briefing is scheduled through February, and the first pilot trial is set for December 7, 2026, with additional trials structured behind it. The case is moving through a defined schedule rather than sitting in procedural limbo.
With such a narrow gap separating 1st and 2nd place, Birth Control Injections remains one of the most competitive and closely watched torts in the market.
CPA: $5,169
CPL: $3,050
For common criteria, please contact us.
#3 Rideshare Assault
Rideshare Assault made one of the biggest moves of the month, jumping 2.7 points and landing in a tie for third place, just a tenth of a point behind the leader. Like Birth Control Injections, this campaign is being driven almost entirely by digital activity, with Meta maxed out and PPC adding meaningful lift. TV remains inactive.
The surge follows a significant development in federal court. An Arizona jury ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million in the first bellwether trial among roughly 3,000 consolidated sexual assault cases. While the jury declined to award punitive damages and rejected certain negligence claims, it found Uber liable under an “apparent agency” theory, a result that could shape strategy and settlement posture across the broader litigation.
In a report where the margin from 1st to 10th is less than 2 points, Rideshare Assault is firmly in the competitive mix.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#4 Diabetes Meds for Weight Loss
After sitting out last month’s report, Diabetes Meds for Weight Loss returns in a strong position at number four, a meaningful rebound.
Digital activity surged, with Meta driving the bulk of the score. But unlike most torts in this month’s report, this one also saw TV re-enter the mix. In a largely digital month, that stands out.
Litigation momentum is broadening as well. While early attention centered on gastrointestinal injuries, new vision-loss claims are now developing in federal court, signaling that the scope of this litigation is expanding rather than narrowing. That combination of evolving legal posture and diversified advertising makes this tort one to watch closely.
CPA: $91 – $463
CPL: $68 – $347
Common Criteria: Took a prescription diabetes drug for weight loss (e.g. Ozempic®, Mounjaro®), discontinued use of the drug, and experienced one or more gastrointestinal disorders at least 30 days after your first dose.
#5 Paraquat
Paraquat posted a modest increase this month but slipped from 3rd to 5th as the field tightened around it.
Like much of the top 10, Paraquat remains almost entirely digital-driven. Meta activity continues to carry the weight, with PPC contributing and TV still inactive.
Litigation remains active, with Phase II trial preparations and continued scrutiny keeping the tort relevant in both courtrooms and the media. But this month’s rankings reflect just how competitive the upper tier has become. Strong performance alone wasn’t enough to climb the ranks. It simply kept Paraquat in the mix.
Tied with #6, this is less about decline and more about compression at the top.
CPA: $711
CPL: $320
Common Criteria: Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease or experiencing Parkinson’s-like symptoms after exposure to Paraquat.
#6 Roblox Child Abuse
Roblox Child Abuse is another tort that posted a higher total score this month but slipped in the rankings due to compression at the top. It now sits tied with Paraquat, underscoring just how tight this report is from top to bottom.
Like many others in the upper tier, this campaign is fully digital-driven. Meta remains maxed out, with PPC contributing steady support and no TV activity in play.
On the litigation front, scrutiny continues to build. Los Angeles County filed a civil lawsuit in February alleging the platform enables adults to target minors, adding to a growing list of state-level actions and private lawsuits. That combination of government enforcement and civil litigation is keeping the tort visible in both media coverage and courtroom activity.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#7 Talcum Powder
After claiming the top spot last month, Talcum Powder fell to seventh in February. The 0.9-point drop reflects softening in both WHii and PPC, and in a report this tight, that was enough to send it sliding several positions.
Digital activity remains strong, with Meta still maxed out. But unlike January, the broader momentum wasn’t there this month to keep it at the front of the pack.
Litigation continues to move forward in state courts, and additional trials are scheduled, but February’s rankings show that steady activity alone isn’t always enough.
CPA: $940
CPL: $470
For common criteria, please contact us.
#8 Dupixent®
Dupixent® enters the rankings with meaningful momentum this month. Meta activity jumped from 3.4 to 5.0, and WHii climbed 1.1 points, signaling a noticeable increase in media attention and courtroom movement.
Recent filings allege that Dupixent® may be linked to the development or acceleration of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, including mycosis fungoides, adding a new dimension to the litigation. As awareness builds and additional complaints surface, digital engagement is clearly responding.
Even without TV activity, Dupixent®’s rise reflects how quickly a developing theory can gain traction when supported by emerging filings and scientific discussion.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
#9 Video Game Addiction
Video Game Addiction held steady at number nine this month, even with a modest increase in total score. In a report this tightly packed, incremental gains weren’t enough to shift its position.
February brought renewed attention to in-game monetization models, as New York’s Attorney General filed a suit against Valve over alleged illegal gambling features tied to “loot boxes.” The complaint argues that slot-machine-style mechanics and the resale value of rare virtual items create addictive dynamics, particularly for younger users.
Meta engagement remains strong, even as WHii sits more moderately. The broader theme continues to center on digital addiction, youth exposure, and regulatory scrutiny—all of which keep this tort relevant despite limited movement in rank.
With state-level enforcement actions ramping up, this category remains one to watch.
CPA: $376
CPL: $169
Common Criteria: Child must be under 18 and spend 4+ hours per day, 5+ days per week, playing Minecraft, Fortnite, GTA 5, or Call of Duty. Child must also experience one or more of the following: addiction, poor school performance, school dropout, cognitive or developmental delays, chronic depression or anxiety, or self-harm/suicidal behavior.
#10 Takata Airbag Recall
Takata Airbag Recall reenters the top ten in a dramatic fashion, climbing from a 2.7 total score last month to 8.0 in February. The surge was driven almost entirely by a sharp increase in TV activity, which jumped from 0 to 5.0, the most significant broadcast presence in this month’s report.
Meta activity also returned after sitting at 0 last month, adding additional lift. WHii remains modest, signaling that while courtroom and media intensity isn’t peaking, advertising strategy clearly shifted.
In a month dominated by digital-first movement, Takata stood out as the primary TV-heavy exception. That broadcast push was enough to propel it back into the rankings.
For metrics such as CPA, CPL, and common criteria, please contact us.
Mesothelioma
You may be noticing a tort missing from our new report. While Mesothelioma continues to dominate the competition when it comes to spend levels, Whitehardt finds that this tort is its own niche animal. These cases can be extremely fruitful, but hard to come by, requiring a high buy-in to get in the game and patience when landing that ringer of a case. We believe that Meso will remain a constant for some time, but in regards to many of the other drugs and devices we focus on in this monthly report, we’ve decided to move it to its own category. If you are interested in hearing the latest news on Meso or how Whitehardt may be currently seeking these cases, you can contact us here.
Whitehardt will continue to track meso spending from month to month, so if you are interested in ongoing meso spending, please reach out to us directly. Going forward, we will be excluding meso from these tort reports.
