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.
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico. In New Mexico, a municipality may call itself a village, town, or city. Taos calls itself the "Town of Taos" and was incorporated as such in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. Being located close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American village and tribe from which it takes its name, it is also the county seat of Taos County. The name also refers to the nearby ski resort of Taos Ski Valley. The English name Taos derives from the native Taos language meaning "place of red willows".