What is a class action suit and when can it be used in international litigation?
A class action suit is a legal action which is brought by a group of plaintiffs (people bringing a claim) against a defendant (person or entity against whom the claim is brought). It is used when a large group of people have suffered a similar grievance or damage caused by the defendant. In international litigation, class action suits can be used when claims involving a common set of facts, but arising in different countries or involving parties from different countries, are brought together in one forum (a court or tribunal). This is particularly useful when the damages suffered by the individuals are not large enough to justify the costs and complexity of bringing individual actions. Class action suits are also used in cases involving mass torts (when a large number of people are injured in a single incident) or when a large number of plaintiffs are spread over a wide geographical area. In these situations, the courts will usually allow the claims to be brought together as a single action, thereby making the process more efficient. In Alaska, class action suits have been used in cases involving environmental damage caused by an international company or when damages have been suffered due to international treaties. In particular, the Alaska Environmental Lawsuit filed in 1980 was a class action suit that involved numerous claims involving environmental damage caused by an oil company operating in the U.S. and Canada.
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