What is a Class Action Lawsuit?
In it’s most simple form, A Class Action Lawsuit is lawsuit with multiple Plaintiffs. Wikipedia define a Class Action Lawsuit as “In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued. Class actions are commonly referred to as “class action suits,” however this phrase is redundant as the historical distinction between “actions” at law and “suits” in equity is no longer recognized. This form of collective lawsuit originated in the United States and is still predominantly a U.S. phenomenon. However, in several European countries with civil law, as opposed to the Anglo-American common law system, changes have been made in recent years that allow consumer organizations to bring claims on behalf of large groups of consumers.”
While 99.9% of us will not be the originating Plaintiff in a Class Action Suit, most of us will be a plaintiff. Knowing you are entitled to some money from a suit is the hard part. We all get those emails, or snail mail telling us about different class actions that we may be entitled to benefit from, but many of do nothing about it. While that is fine when we are talking about a few dollars, but when you have been hurt because of taking a pill or your child has a birth defect because of a prescription you took on Dr’s orders, it is a different story.
For a list of Class Action Lawsuits you need to be aware of, check out this Class Action Lawsuit Directory or our post on Class Action Lawsuits and Mass Torts As A Woman You Need To Be Aware Of.
What is a Mass Tort?
Mass torts may be distinguished from other personal injury claims by several distinct features. First, mass torts involve large numbers of claims that are associated with a single product. Second, despite the number of claimants, there is a commonality of factual and legal issues. Third, there is a value interdependence between the different claims.
For a list of Mass Tort Actions you need to be aware of, see the Mass Torts Directory or our post on Class Action Lawsuits and Mass Torts As A Woman You Need To Be Aware Of
Sources:
- http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/mass-tort/faq.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action