Class Action Lawsuit Definition

This is a lawsuit involving a group (or “class”) of either plaintiffs or defendants.

Group of Plantiffs

Typically, a class action lawsuit involves a group, or class, of people called “plaintiffs” who claim they have suffered a similar type of injury, from the same “defendant”, who is often a business or government.

Examples of Famous Class Action Lawsuits include those:

• against tobacco companies, as they profited from customers who developed cancer;
• against car manufacturers, like Ford who allegedly knew their model Pinto burst into flames upon impact, injuring people, often badly; a main issue was that Ford continued to sell the vehicle to an unsuspecting public after deciding the cost of paying damages to injured people was cheaper than recalling the vehicles;
• against pharmaceutical companies, such as the makers of birth control pills, blamed for causing blood clots and strokes in otherwise healthy patients; and
• against governments for running institutions at which people were abused (such as institutions for people with disabilities for example, or residential schools for Aboriginal or First Nations children).

Plaintiffs and Defendants Must Be Represented By Lawyers

It is imperative that plaintiffs and defendants are represented by lawyers.

Joining A Class Action After It Has Already Started

Even if a class action lawsuit has already started, individuals who allege they have suffered similar injuries or losses from the same defendant may still be able to join the lawsuit. There is usually a fixed time-period in which plaintiffs can opt in or opt out of a class action lawsuit, so it is important not to miss that deadline.

Opting Out Of A Class Action After It Has Already Started

Even after you have joined the class action lawsuit, you may choose to opt out of it while the process is ongoing, provided you are not the main plaintiff.

Frivolous Class Action Lawsuits

If your lawsuit is frivolous, you may end up owing money to your lawyer and to the person you sued.

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