What is the difference between class action and single plaintiffs lawsuits?

Class action and single plaintiff lawsuits both involve individuals bringing a claim against another for damages due to an injury or wrongful act. The key difference between class action and single plaintiff lawsuits is who the lawsuit is brought against. In a class action lawsuit, the plaintiff is acting on behalf of an entire group of people or “class” of people who have been wronged in the same way. For example, a class action lawsuit may be brought against an employer if they have engaged in discriminatory practices that affect the rights of many workers. The benefits of a class action lawsuit include the ability to unite many individuals who have been wronged into one big case and to spread litigation costs across many people. A single plaintiff lawsuit, on the other hand, is only brought against a specific party on behalf of a single individual. This allows for an individual to bring a lawsuit against someone who has wronged them, such as a manufacturer of a defective product that caused them physical harm. Each individual claim needs to be addressed separately in a single plaintiff lawsuit, so it can be more time consuming and costly for the injured individual. In North Carolina, both class action and single plaintiff lawsuits may be brought forward and there are protected rights to do so. North Carolina courts can decide whether a case should be heard as a class action or as individual lawsuits, depending on the specific circumstances.

Related FAQs

What are the requirements to file a class action lawsuit?
What is an aggregate settlement in a class action lawsuit?
What is a class action settlement?
What happens when the class action lawsuit goes to trial?
How is the class of plaintiffs identified and certified?
What is a class action lawsuit?
How do I file a class action lawsuit?
What type of damages are available in a class action lawsuit?
How much notice do class members receive before a class action settlement?
How are attorneys’ fees paid in a class action settlement?

What is the difference between class action and single plaintiffs lawsuits?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts