How is a class action lawsuit certified?

A class action lawsuit is certified when a court approves a group of people to represent a larger group of people with similar interests. In California, a class action lawsuit must be certified by the court after the representative plaintiffs have met the criteria set forth in the applicable laws, known as the California Code of Civil Procedure. The criteria for certification include determining that there is a sufficiently large number of similarly-situated people, that these people have suffered the same or similar injuries or damages, and that they share similar legal and factual issues. In addition, the court must also determine that the claims of the representative plaintiffs are typical of the claims of the larger group, and that the representative plaintiffs will adequately represent the interests of the group. Another factor that the court must consider is whether a class action lawsuit is the best way to resolve the dispute between the parties. This factor includes whether it is more efficient for the parties to be included in a single lawsuit rather than having to file individual lawsuits, as well as whether the amount of money and other relief sought is sufficient to make pursuing a class action lawsuit worthwhile. Finally, the court also needs to determine that the class is clearly defined and that it can be reliably identified by members of the class and the court. Once these criteria are met, the court can certify the class action lawsuit and the representative plaintiffs can move forward with the lawsuit on behalf of the group.

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How is a class action lawsuit certified?

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