Two line chart of the number of product liability and total tort cases concluded by settlement, dismissal or verdict in the U.S. district courts
For product liability cases concluded by settlement, dismissal, or verdict, the number began at 0 in 1970 and remained constant until 1972. The number then increased to 37,326 in 1999, before falling to 12,898 in 2001. Then it increased to 28,330 in 2002 and fell to 27,402 in 2003.
For total tort cases concluded by settlement, dismissal, or verdict, the number began at 25,451 in 1970 and increased to 27,199 in 1972. After 1972, the number fell, reaching 23,619 in 1976, before increasing to a high of 60,941 in 1999. Then it fell to 34,918 in 2001. Then it increased 49,620 in 2002 and slightly decreased to 49,166 in 2003.