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.
Rolla is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States, midway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield. The population was estimated in 2008 as 18,438. It is the county seat of Phelps County. The Rolla Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Phelps County. Rolla is an important center for state and federal education and research in science and technology. It is the home of the Missouri University of Science and Technology, originating as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1870 and existing as the University of Missouri–Rolla from 1964 through 2007. In addition, the US Geological Survey operates a large regional facility with various centers: the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center III, the Missouri Water Science Center, the Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center, National Spatial Data Infrastructure Partnership Office Liaisons, and the Rolla Science Information and Library Services office. The headquarters of the Mark Twain National Forest, the only United States National Forest in Missouri, is also located in Rolla. Although private businesses are more limited, Royal Canin, a major manufacturer of dog and cat food, operates in Rolla. In addition, this is part of the Ozark Highlands American Viticultural Area, with vineyards established first by Italian immigrants to the area.