What is the difference between a class action lawsuit and a citizens’ suit?

A class action lawsuit is a type of civil lawsuit that is brought by one or more representative plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group of people. The plaintiffs are suing for damages and/or other relief for the entire group, which may be a neighborhood or even a state. In Alaska, class action lawsuits can be brought when a company or government has harmed a large number of people in some way. A citizens’ suit, on the other hand, is a civil lawsuit that is brought by an individual or group of individuals against a government agency or official. It is usually brought to challenge a particular policy, decision, or practice of the agency or official. For example, in Alaska, citizens can bring a suit to force a government agency to comply with the state’s environmental protection laws. Unlike class action lawsuits, citizens’ suits can only be brought by the individual(s) bringing the suit and cannot be brought on behalf of a larger group of people.

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