What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a legal proceeding in which a group of people, referred to as "class members," join together to present a single legal claim. The claim is filed against a defendant, usually a company, and seeks to resolve a dispute affecting all of the class members. In order for a class action lawsuit to be filed, the case must involve an issue that affects a large number of people, and the class must have a clear common interest. All class members are usually bound by the outcome of the lawsuit. In Kansas, class action lawsuits are governed by the Kansas Class Action Procedures Act. Under this law, the plaintiff, known as the "class representative," may bring a class action lawsuit on behalf of the class members. The court must then approve the suit as a proper class action, by determining that the class meets certain requirements such as numerosity, commonality, and typicality. Class action lawsuits can be beneficial in a number of ways. By consolidating dozens, hundreds, or thousands of individual claims into one lawsuit, class action lawsuits can be a cost-effective way for class members to pursue justice. Additionally, class action lawsuits can bring attention to legal issues that might have been overlooked if the class members were to pursue individual claims.

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