How does evidence in a class action lawsuit differ from other types of lawsuits?

Class action lawsuits in Washington are a little different than other types of lawsuits, in that the evidence requirements are much higher. In a class action lawsuit, the evidence must be able to prove that there is a clear and present danger to the public at large - for example, a company releasing hazardous waste without proper safety precautions. This is much higher than the burden of proof in a typical civil lawsuit, where the plaintiff only needs to prove that the defendant was responsible for damages done to them. In a class action, multiple plaintiffs must be involved. This means that the evidence must not only be solid, but also applicable to all plaintiffs represented in the lawsuit. It is not enough to simply provide evidence that one person was harmed - there must be evidence to show that all members of the class were also similarly affected. Unlike other types of civil cases, class action law suits often involve multiple defendants. This means that the evidence must be able to clearly show how each defendant is responsible for the harm done to the members of the class. Again, this is higher than the evidence requirements for a normal civil lawsuit, where it is only necessary to prove that one party is liable for damages (to the plaintiff). Overall, the evidence requirements for a class action lawsuit in Washington are generally higher than those of other lawsuits because they involve multiple plaintiffs, multiple defendants, and require proof of a greater degree of potential harm to the public.

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How does evidence in a class action lawsuit differ from other types of lawsuits?

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