What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and a private attorney general action?

Class action lawsuits and private attorney general actions are both legal proceedings that involve multiple parties. In a class action lawsuit, a group of plaintiffs bring a single lawsuit against a defendant or defendants, in order to obtain compensation or other relief. The individual plaintiffs, who are referred to as class members, do not have to be named in the complaint. The claim is usually based on damages or losses incurred by the group as a whole. In contrast, a private attorney general action is a lawsuit in which an individual brings a lawsuit on behalf of the state. In these cases, the plaintiff must qualify as a “private attorney general” by showing that he or she has suffered an injury or loss that occurred because of a violation of the law. Unlike in a class action lawsuit, the individual plaintiff must be named in the complaint. Additionally, private attorney general actions are usually brought to enforce a specific state or federal statute or to correct a public wrong. In Arkansas, class action lawsuits are brought in state court, while private attorney general actions are brought in federal court. In both types of lawsuits, the plaintiff must be able to prove the defendant’s liability in order to be successful. If successful, the plaintiff can potentially recover damages or other relief on behalf of the entire group of plaintiffs.

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What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and a private attorney general action?

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