What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a legal action brought by one person or a group of people on behalf of a larger group of people who have similar legal claims. In Arkansas, a class action lawsuit must meet certain criteria in order for it to be certified as a class action. All class members must have suffered similar injuries, and the members must have a common legal issue which relates to the same facts and/or the same law. Once a class action lawsuit is certified, all members of the class are notified by mail that a class action lawsuit has been filed on their behalf. All members of the class are then given the chance to opt-out of the lawsuit, meaning they are free to pursue their own claim for damages. Members of the class who choose to remain in the suit are called "named" or "represented" plaintiffs, and any judgement or settlement of the lawsuit would be binding on all such plaintiffs. If the class action lawsuit is successful, members of the class may be awarded a variety of damages, such as compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Sometimes, class action lawsuits may also result in a change to the conduct of the defendant, such as requiring the defendant to change their policies or practices which gave rise to the class action lawsuit.

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What is a class action lawsuit?

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