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

The difference between a class action lawsuit and an individual lawsuit is quite substantial. In a class action lawsuit, a group of people (known as a “class”) who have suffered harm caused by a single defendant come together to sue the defendant for their collective harm. Each person in the class acts as a representative for the class as a whole, rather than individually. Each person in the class does not need to prove their specific harm, but instead rely on the class as a whole to win the case. In contrast, an individual lawsuit is one in which a single person (or a limited group of people) sues a defendant for their own individual losses. This type of lawsuit is ideal when the harm suffered is unique to one person, or a very small group of people. In this type of action, each person is responsible for proving the harm suffered by them individually. In Kansas, class action lawsuits can be filed in civil courts, and the Kansas Consumer Protection Act allows consumers to file class action claims against businesses who have engaged in unlawful practices. In order to bring a class action lawsuit in Kansas, each individual in the class must have suffered harm in the same way, and the same defendant must be responsible for their injury.

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

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