Legal term
Short-Form Complaint
Updated Jul 19, 20261 sources
In a sentence
An abbreviated filing used in MDLs: the master complaint carries the common allegations once, and each plaintiff files a short form with their individual facts. It's how MDLs make six-figure dockets administratively possible.
Most large MDLs adopt a master complaint (the shared allegations against the defendant) plus short-form complaints (your product use, injury, and dates). Many also allow direct filing into the MDL court, skipping the home-district-then-transfer step.
Direct filing has traps — courts have held direct filers waived their right to a home-district trial, and it can change which state's law applies. It's a lawyer's strategic decision, but knowing the vocabulary helps you follow your own docket.
