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.
Sledge is a town located in Quitman County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 529. Famous African American Country singer Charley Pride is from Sledge. Leroy Brown was an actual man from the area who may have very well have been the inspiration for the Jim Croce song. This area is considered by some to be the genuine birthplace of the blues. Many of the blues greats grew up and nurtured their music in the juke joints surrounding Sledge.