What it is
A request to combine related cases or coordinate them before one judge because they share common questions of law or fact. Consolidation can cover discovery, motions, hearings, or trial, depending on how closely the cases overlap.
Procedural
Motion to Consolidate
Asks the court to combine or coordinate related cases that share common legal or factual questions.
When it's used
Filed when separate lawsuits involve the same accident, contract, policy, product, transaction, defendants, or legal issue. It is common in mass torts, business disputes, employment cases, and repeated suits over the same practice.
What the other side does
Opponents argue the cases are too different, consolidation would prejudice parties, confuse a jury, delay a simpler case, or make individual issues harder to resolve.
Common outcomes
The court may consolidate fully, coordinate only discovery or pretrial motion practice, assign cases to one judge, or deny consolidation if overlap is too weak.
Not legal advice. Motion practice varies by court,
judge, and case type. Local rules and standing orders frequently
modify the federal defaults shown here. If you're facing a motion
or considering filing one, talk to a lawyer about strategy and
timing for your specific case.