How does a class action lawsuit work?

In Kansas, a class action lawsuit is a form of civil lawsuit that enables a large number of people who have been injured or suffered damages because of the same defendant to join together and file one lawsuit. It is generally used when it would be impractical or too costly to file multiple individual lawsuits. Class action lawsuits typically begin when one or more people file a complaint in court, often called a "lead plaintiff." The lead plaintiff typically does so on behalf of the class, which is made up of all the people harmed by the defendant’s actions. The complaint describes the basis for the lawsuit and the damages the class is seeking. Once the lawsuit has been filed, the lead plaintiff is responsible for notifying all other affected individuals. This notice informs them that they have the right to join the lawsuit. All individuals who wish to join must fill out and return a document called an “opt-in form.” If the lawsuit is successful, the court will order the defendant to compensate the class. This compensation is typically divided equally among the members of the class. The judge may also issue an injunction that requires the defendant to change their practices in order to prevent similar harm from occurring in the future. Class action lawsuits are an effective way to ensure that large groups of people who have been harmed by the same defendant can obtain rightful compensation without having to go through the expense and effort of filing multiple individual lawsuits.

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How does a class action lawsuit work?

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