What are civil rights class actions?

Civil Rights Class actions are legal cases in which a group of individuals, represented by one or more people, join together to seek justice for a common interest they share. These cases generally involve people who have been discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristic. In Virginia, class action lawsuits are typically filed in federal court, where the plaintiff class seeks to right the wrongs inflicted against a large number of people who were subjected to the same kind of discrimination. The person or persons who brought the case (called a representative plaintiff or plaintiffs) typically must satisfy certain legal criteria in order to represent the entire class. This includes showing that their interests align with the class and that damages should be awarded to all members of the class. In a civil rights class action, the court may award damages to the class members as a group or may order the other party to take certain actions, like changing their policies or practices. This kind of litigation serves to protect the rights of all members of the class and can result in broad changes designed to prevent similar discrimination from occurring in the future.

Related FAQs

What are civil rights?
What are civil rights class actions?
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1991?
How does one file a civil rights complaint?
How do civil rights laws protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation?
What remedies are available for a civil rights violation?
What are the civil rights of individuals facing discrimination based on language or accent?
What remedies exist for sex discrimination in the workplace?
What are the civil rights of immigrants in the United States?

What are civil rights class actions?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts