How Does A Class Action Lawsuit Work

Full Video Transcript

First, an individual or group of individuals will bring a civil lawsuit against an alleged wrongdoer. Once the lawsuit is initiated, the parties who brought the action will ask the court to certify the lawsuit as a class action. The class must be reasonable in size with enough people to justify being a class. Each class member must have facts of their claim in common with the rest of the class, such as similar misconduct. It must also be proven to the court that it makes sense to proceed as a class. If the court does certify the class, the original party becomes the named representative of the group of similarly situated individuals. The lawsuit will then proceed as a class action, even if all the members of the class are not identified.