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

The main difference between a class action lawsuit and a single plaintiff lawsuit is that in a class action lawsuit, one or more people act as representatives for a larger group of people. All of the people in the group must have suffered the same type of harm, injury, or loss and their claims must arise from the same event or course of conduct. In a single plaintiff lawsuit, one person brings a claim based on the harm, injury, or loss they personally experienced. Typically, the case brought by a single plaintiff has to be resolved separately from any other plaintiff’s case. In both types of lawsuits, the plaintiff(s) sue a defendant for financial damages. However, in a class action lawsuit, one or more plaintiffs act as a “class representative” and receive a portion of the settlement or verdict for their services. The remaining portion is then divided among all of the plaintiffs in the group. In the state of West Virginia, a class action is governed by the Class Action Act. This law establishes the procedures for filing a class action lawsuit in the state. Generally, the court must approve the class before a class action lawsuit can proceed. The court may also appoint an impartial attorney to represent the class action. In comparison, there are no statewide regulations governing how to bring a single-plaintiff lawsuit. The regulations and procedures are determined by the laws of the specific court where the case is being heard. All in all, the main differences between class action and single plaintiff lawsuits are that class actions involve more than one plaintiff and may be divided jury awards, while a single-plaintiff lawsuit involves one plaintiff and may not be divided.

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

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