What is a class action?

A class action refers to a legal proceeding in which a group of individuals collective with similar claims or interests comes together to sue another party, typically because they have been wronged in a similar way. This is particularly effective for cases where individual claims may be too small to pursue on their own, allowing for a more efficient legal process that can achieve a significant outcome for the group as a whole. Class actions often occur in matters such as consumer rights, employment disputes, or environmental concerns.

In contrast, a lawsuit pursued by a single individual does not encompass the collaborative nature essential to a class action. Additionally, actions taken by government agencies typically fall under regulatory or enforcement actions rather than class actions, which originate from private individuals or groups. Finally, a type of criminal prosecution involves the state prosecuting an individual or entity for breaking the law, which is fundamentally different from the civil nature of class action lawsuits, where the focus is on compensating the harmed parties rather than punishing an offender.