What is the difference between class action and individual representation?

Class action and individual representation are two separate legal processes used in New York. Class action occurs when a group of people, or “class,” with similar legal claims and interests come together to pursue a case as a group. All members of the class share the outcome of the case. Individual representation, on the other hand, is when a single person files a claim against another person or organization. This is a process in which the person filing the claim must establish their own legal claims, and any outcome from the case is only applicable to that single person. Class action is often used when a large group of people have experienced the same harm caused by a company or organization, such as a product recall or a data breach. Pursuing the legal claims as a group is more efficient because all the members typically have the same complaints, allowing the case to be resolved more quickly. In individual representation, each person’s case is handled separately and each person must prove their own legal claims. This process is often more expensive and time consuming. Class action has an advantage because a single successful outcome applies to the entire class, which can often lead to a higher reward for the members involved. On the other hand, individual representation has the advantage of allowing the person filing the claim to seek a specifically tailored outcome for their individual situation.

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What is the difference between class action and individual representation?

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