Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Class Action?
A class action lawsuit allows one or more individuals to bring a lawsuit on behalf of a group of other individuals who all suffered a similar loss caused by the same defendant. The group is known as the “class,” and each individual who suffered the loss is a “class member.” An individual who brings… Read More »
What Are the Stages of a Class Action Lawsuit?
Class action lawsuits involve many stages between filing the lawsuit and obtaining compensation for affected consumers. Below are the typical stages of a class action lawsuit. Pre-lawsuit investigation When a consumer brings a potential case to class action attorneys, the attorneys must investigate the case to make sure it has the potential to become… Read More »
What is a Class Representative?
In order for a lawsuit to proceed as a class action, it must have a class representative—also sometimes called a named plaintiff. A class representative is the legal representative of the class. With the assistance of class counsel, they prosecute the class action on behalf of themselves and the other class members. A class… Read More »
What is Class Certification?
Any person can file a lawsuit as a proposed or putative class action. However, the lawsuit does not actually become a class action until the Court certifies it as a class action. A Court will only grant class certification if a lawsuit meets certain legal requirements discussed below. Once a Court grants class certification,… Read More »
How Do I Start a Class Action?
When a person suffers a loss and believes others have experienced the same loss, they may be able to start a class action to hold the responsible company accountable. An individual lawsuit against a company generally seeks to hold the company responsible for the damage to the individual, such as that individual’s defective vehicle…. Read More »
How Long Does a Class Action Take?
Every class action is different and estimating how long a particular lawsuit will last is impossible. Class actions generally go through several stages, and the time required for each stage varies greatly from case to case. Factors that affect how long a case will take include the strength of the plaintiff’s case, the complexity… Read More »
Who Pays for a Class Action?
Attorneys typically handle class actions on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they win the case. When plaintiffs prevail, the Court will usually establish a common fund of all the money owed to the class members as damages. The Court will approve a portion of the common fund to compensate… Read More »