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.
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 12,708 and is about sixteen miles away from Angleton. BASF is the major employer in Freeport, as the company operates a large chemical plant complex in Freeport. Freeport is in the 14th congressional district, and is represented by Congressman Ron Paul.