A mass tort is a civil action involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few corporate defendants. The tort may involve, for example, personal injuries suffered by numerous plaintiffs as a result of a defective product, or a mass disaster in which there were many injured persons, such as an airplane crash, or exposure of a large group of people to toxic chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
Dobbins (formerly, Dobbin, Dobbins Ranche, Dobbins Ranch, and Dobbin's Ranche) is an unincorporated community in Yuba County, California. It lies 26 miles (42 km) northeast of Marysville, at an elevation of 1742 feet, in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada Mountain Range off of Highway 20 and Marysville Road. Dobbins is north of Oregon House and south of Bullards Bar Dam. Dobbins has one post office, one general store, 2 churches, a grange hall, one grade school, one charter school, and Lake Francis Resort. The town was settled in 1849, and named for William M. and Mark D. Dobbins, early settlers. The first post office was established in 1851 under the name Dobbins Ranche'; it closed in 1854. The post office returned in 1887 and has operated continuously since. A mining camp, Kentucky Ranch was located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the southwest. Egan, which had a post office from 1896-1898 was 3 miles (4.8 km) north. Frequently in the winter seasons it is subject to periodic snowfalls that close roads. Most students attend high school in Marysville, CA or in the Sierra County school district.