What is the difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a class-action lawsuit?
In New Mexico, medical malpractice lawsuits and class-action lawsuits are two separate legal claims. Both claims are made when someone believes they have been wrongfully harmed due to the actions of another party. The main difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a class-action lawsuit is the type of harm and the number of people affected. A medical malpractice lawsuit involves a single patient who has been harmed due to negligence or intentional actions of a healthcare provider. The lawsuit is intended to seek damages and/or compensation for the harm suffered. A class-action lawsuit, on the other hand, may involve multiple people who allege to have been harmed in the same manner. This could involve groups of people who have taken the same medication with adverse effects, or groups of people who has suffered similar damages due to the same business practices. All of the people involved in a class-action lawsuit must also agree to pursue the lawsuit in order for it to be successful. Additionally, the court may award different forms of damages in each type of lawsuit. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the court may award monetary damages to the patient who was harmed. Whereas, in a class-action lawsuit, the court may award a monetary settlement to all the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, or may order the defendant to change their practices so that similar harm does not occur in the future. Ultimately, the key difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a class-action lawsuit is the type of harm experienced and the number of people affected. Both types of lawsuits are intended to seek justice for wrongdoings, but require different types of evidence to be successful.
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