Home/How Filing Works
How Filing Works
A clear guide to the process, the courts and the deadlines to discuss with your lawyer.
Where these cases are filed
Most social media harm claims are individual personal injury lawsuits. They are not a class action. Because thousands of families have brought similar claims against the same companies, the courts have grouped them together so that evidence and pretrial work can be shared. Each family’s claim is still decided on its own facts.
The federal MDL
Federal cases are consolidated before one judge in the Northern District of California as In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3047. As of September 1, 2026, 3,208 cases were pending there.
Source: U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
California state court
A parallel group of cases is coordinated in California state court as JCCP No. 5255. Which forum suits a particular family depends on where they live, which platforms were involved and several other factors. This is one of the things a case review sorts out.
What a case looks like, step by step
- Free review. You tell us what happened. We ask about age, platforms, treatment and timing. No cost, no obligation.
- Records. If we take the case, we gather medical records, school records and platform account data. You sign authorizations; we do the collecting.
- Filing. We file in the court that fits your family’s situation and explain the available privacy protections, including initials for minors where applicable.
- Discovery. Both sides exchange evidence. In these cases that includes the companies’ internal research and design documents.
- Expert review. Specialists assess whether and how platform use may have contributed to the harm described.
- Resolution. A case may resolve through negotiation, court rulings or trial. In March 2026, an individual social media personal-injury case in Los Angeles reached a jury verdict.
The Meta agreement announced by state attorneys general in August 2026 provides payments to states, not a claims program for individual families. Seeking compensation for your child requires a separate evaluation of your family’s potential claim.
Deadlines
Every state sets its own filing deadline, called a statute of limitations. The rules are different for minors, and different again for wrongful death claims. In many states the clock is paused while a child is still a minor and starts when they turn 18, but that is not true everywhere and there are exceptions. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent a claim, so it is important to ask promptly.
If you think a deadline may be close, say so when you contact us and we will look at it first.
What it costs
Free initial review with no obligation. If we can accept your case, we will send you an agreement explaining the fees and expenses before you decide to hire us.