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.
North Fork (formerly, Brown's and Northfork) is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located 22 miles (35 km) east of Raymond, at an elevation of 2638 feet (804 m). It is 9.89 miles south east of Bass Lake and 14 miles from Oakhurst. North Fork is also home of the Mono Indian Museum and the starting point of the Sierra scenic byway. The town boasts two groceries, several restaurant and gas stations. The best seasons to visit weatherwise are late summer, early fall and spring. North Fork is at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada near Yosemite National Park. According to the 2000 U.S. Census the population of the 93643 zip code area was 3,360 with a median age of 44.8 years. The community is inside area code 559. It is part of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town's original inhabitants were members of the Mono tribe, who still comprise a significant portion of the population (9.4% according to the 2000 Census). Milton Brown was the first white settler at the place and its original name was Brown's. The name North Fork came from the North Fork Lumber Company. The North Fork post office opened in 1888. North Fork's economy was based in the timber industry until the local lumber mill closed in 1996. The geographic center of the state of California is located between North Fork and Italian Bar. The point is about 7.1 miles (11.4 km) driving distance from the United States Forest Service office in North Fork. The location is marked by a sign and a survey marker. NAD83 coordinates for the exact center of California are 37°09′58″N 119°26′58″W / 37.16611°N 119.44944°W / 37.16611; -119.44944 The Fresno County line is less than one mile (1.6 km), (straight-line distance), from the site's survey marker. The site is also marked on the United States Forest Service road map of Sierra National Forest, which can be purchased at the North Fork USFS office. The actual site has wooden stairs leading up the hillside about 50 feet from the road. The marker is not wheelchair accessible. Italian Bar Rd. , the road to the geographic center marker, is paved with a smooth surface and is usable by ordinary passenger cars. The road is narrow and meeting a large truck, such as Forest Service Fire Engine or logging truck, may require maneuvering to allow passage. The Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California maintains their tribal headquarters in North Fork. The Sierra Mono Museum is also located here.