What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a type of legal action in which a group of people collectively join as a single plaintiff to take action against a defendant. Class action lawsuits are commonly used for cases involving large numbers of individuals who have suffered damage or injuries and are able to join together to bring a collective claim. Class action lawsuits in New York are governed by the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR). Under this law, a group of individuals with similar claims can join as a class in a lawsuit against a single defendant. If the case is accepted, the court will appoint a single representative for the group of plaintiffs, and the class must be certified for the lawsuit to move forward. Once a class action lawsuit is certified, the court will order the defendant to provide information and documents to the class representative and issue notices to the class members about the case and their rights. Each class member can choose to opt-out of the lawsuit by notifying the court, or to stay in the class and benefit from the case. Once the lawsuit is complete, the court may order the defendant to pay the class of plaintiffs either a certain sum of money or other form of compensation. This compensation is then distributed among the members of the class based on the individual losses they have suffered.

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What is a class action lawsuit?

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