What is the difference between a direct action lawsuit and a class action lawsuit?

A direct action lawsuit is one in which only one person, or a group of people who have suffered the same harm, sue a single defendant for damages. In contrast, a class action lawsuit is a lawsuit where a large group of people collectively join together to bring forth a single action in court against one or more defendants. In Florida, class action lawsuits are regulated by Florida Statute 768. A class action lawsuit must have two criteria in order to be certified in Florida. First, the class must include at least 25 people who are either named as plaintiffs or in a class. Second, the issues in the lawsuit must be common to all class members. Some examples of common class action lawsuits in Florida include those against banks for consumer financial fraud, against companies for defective products, and against insurance companies for deceptive practices. Class action lawsuits are meant to provide relief to a large group of people who have suffered the same harm and may not have the means to individually bring a case to court. The primary difference between a direct action lawsuit and a class action lawsuit is that a direct action lawsuit can only involve one person or a group of people who have suffered the same harm whereas a class action lawsuit can involve a large group of people with common issues. A class action lawsuit is especially beneficial to people who would not be able to bring a case to court individually, and can ultimately provide more extensive relief to the entire class.

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What is the difference between a direct action lawsuit and a class action lawsuit?

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