What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and an individual lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is different from an individual lawsuit in several ways. In a class action lawsuit, one or more individuals, called “class representatives,” sue on behalf of a much larger group of people who have similar legal claims. This larger group is known as a “class” or “class of plaintiffs.” In Washington, these lawsuits are regulated by the Consumer Protection Act, which allows individuals to join forces to sue large entities or organizations. In contrast, an individual lawsuit is filed by a single person, or a small number of people, who have experienced similar harm. In other words, in an individual lawsuit, the same legal claims are being made by multiple people; however, the lawsuit is limited to a specific number of individuals. Class action lawsuits have several important advantages over individual lawsuits. Most notably, they allow individuals to pool their resources to take on larger entities or organizations who may be responsible for causing them harm. Additionally, they allow individuals to recover damages they may not be able to receive if they were to file an individual suit. Lastly, these types of lawsuits can be a cost-effective way to bring justice when the cost of individual lawsuits would be too high for the individuals involved. In conclusion, the main difference between a class action lawsuit and an individual lawsuit is that one involves multiple people who have the same legal claims, while the other involves only a few people with similar legal claims.

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What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and an individual lawsuit?

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