Organizing a Class Action Lawsuit

It may seem like a formidable task for one person to tackle a large corporation in a lawsuit, but when more than one person has a legitimate complaint, a class action lawsuit can make the cause much more powerful. Class action lawsuits are used when several different individuals are adversely affected by the actions (or inactions) of one company or organization. The judgment (if any) is divided between the plaintiffs, and everyone goes home a winner.

Organizing a Class Action Lawsuit: Find Out If You Have Legal Grounds

A class action lawsuit isn't automatically formed when several people get together and decide to sue a company or organization together. The plaintiffs must present their case to a judge, who will then decide whether or not a class action lawsuit is appropriate. This will depend on several different factors, including: number of coplaintiffs, strength of evidence, financial resources of the defendant(s) and whether or not the defendant(s) have done significant harm. In order to prepare to argue a class action lawsuit, you'll need an experienced attorney (sometimes several) who can assist you in preparation.

Organizing a Class Action Lawsuit: Determine a Lead Plaintiff

Most class action lawsuits are made up of many people (anywhere from ten to several million) and in order to argue effectively in court, there should be a lead plaintiff who can speak for the group. Usually, the lead plaintiff will choose between two and twenty co-plaintiffs to testify in court (usually those who have been harmed the most) and the lead plaintiff will take the forefront during the court proceedings. His or her attorney will also sit first chair.

Organizing a Class Action Lawsuit: Get Prepared for the Long Haul