What is the role of the court in a class action lawsuit?

A court plays a pivotal role in a class action lawsuit in North Carolina. A class action is a type of legal action in which one or more individuals, called class representatives, sue on behalf of a larger group of people who have shared injuries and legal claims. The court is responsible for determining whether a group of individuals should be certified as a class. To do this, the court must decide whether the individuals have common claims or issues of law or fact, and if the group is so numerous that it would be impractical to join all of the individuals in one lawsuit. If the court decides that the criteria for class certification is met, the court will enter an order certifying the class and appoint class counsel to represent the class. The court will also put in place procedures to notify other members of the class of the lawsuit. Once the class is certified, the court will oversee the class action. The court will hold a trial, during which the parties involved will present evidence and arguments, and the court will issue a ruling. The court may also issue orders to ensure that the class is represented adequately or that class members are treated fairly. Finally, if the class is successful, the court will issue an order awarding monetary damages or requiring other forms of relief to the class. The court may also set a procedure for distributing the damages to class members.

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What is the role of the court in a class action lawsuit?

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