Specific Causation

Specific causation is the element of a mass tort plaintiff's case establishing that the defendant's product or conduct actually caused harm to that particular claimant, as distinguished from general causation, which addresses whether the substance or device is capable of causing the alleged injury in anyone. In plaintiff intake and case evaluation, confirming specific causation typically requires reviewing individual medical records, exposure history, and expert opinions linking the claimant's diagnosed condition to the alleged tortious agent. Weakness in specific causation evidence is a primary driver of case rejection during screening, as claims lacking a demonstrable individual causal link carry significantly elevated litigation risk regardless of the strength of general causation science.