From 1996 to 2020, 44,998 defendants were named in class action lawsuits, and more than $104 billion was provided to plaintiffs through settlements of class action lawsuits, according to Stanford Law School.
If you were injured by a corporation, a Detroit class action lawsuits lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC can review your claim to determine if it qualifies as a class action. Call us today at (800) 709-1441 to learn about all the ways we can help.
Explaining a Class Action Lawsuit
A class action lawsuit brings a collective group of claims against the same defendant. Instead of just one or a few people suing a corporation or other defendant, a larger group of people ban together to file a lawsuit.
In a class action, one or more lead plaintiffs file the lawsuit on behalf of the group. There is no limit to the number of people who can be plaintiffs in the lawsuit. However, each person (called a class member) must have the following things in common:
- The same grievance
- The same defendant
- Same legal issues
- Same types of injuries or losses
For a free legal consultation with a class action lawsuits lawyer serving Detroit, call (800) 709-1441
Types of Class Action Lawsuits
Class action lawsuits are often filed against corporations, employers, manufacturers, and other entities. They often allege grievances such as:
- The defendant polluted the environment with toxins
- The defendant manufactured dangerous drugs or defective products
- The defendant was responsible for an environmental disaster
- The defendant committed unlawful business practices
- The defendant discriminated against the plaintiff
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Process of Filing a Class Action Lawsuit
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the process of commencing a federal class action lawsuit includes the following steps:
- Filing a complaint regarding the alleged wrongful act committed by the defendant and naming the plaintiffs.
- Having the court certify the plaintiffs as a class by considering the factors under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Once the court certifies the class, the court defines the class, claims, issues, and defenses and appoints class counsel.
- Following directions by the court to give notice to class members.
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Benefits of Class Action Lawsuits
According to the Federal Trade Commission, class action lawsuits have provided consumers a way to obtain redress in cases where individual suits would not be efficient or practical. For example, if you were charged an incorrect amount of money for a service, it may not be worth it for you to file a claim for a relatively small amount of money. However, if hundreds or thousands were also mischarged in the same way, the case may be more worth pursuing. Filing a class action lets you and other plaintiffs pool resources and have power in numbers.
When class members join together, they do not pay attorney fees outright. Instead, the attorney is paid out of the funds they recover for the plaintiffs. This allows the plaintiffs to benefit from having legal assistance without having to pay for it up front. In some cases, the defendants are charged the attorney’s fees and costs.
Most class members do not have to testify at trial or be directly involved in litigation. They act as passive participants. However, if the class action is decided in their favor, they can still receive compensation out of the award. A few plaintiffs serve as the face of the lawsuit and do testify or otherwise publicly represent the class.
Class action lawsuits help balance power between consumers and companies. By filing a class action lawsuit, you may be able to help hold a negligent company accountable for wrongful acts and get justice without having to pay for the entire lawsuit yourself. Instead of having many different, smaller claims, a class action lawsuit streamlines the process so that there is a single lawsuit brought in one court.
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Potential Damages in a Class Action Lawsuit
The potential damages in a class action lawsuit depend on how you and others were harmed by the defendant’s actions. Depending on these circumstances, you may be able to pursue damages for:
- Charges that were made on your account unfairly or without your consent
- Damage to your property
- Statutory damages specifically accounted for by law
- Attorney fees and costs
Contact us to find out what damages you might be able to recover through a class action lawsuit.
How a Detroit Class Action Lawsuits Lawyer Can Help
A Detroit class action lawsuits lawyer can help by:
- Investigating the alleged wrongdoing
- Interviewing other potential plaintiffs about their grievance
- Preparing the complaint and other legal filings
- Demonstrating how the class members share necessary commonalities to have the class certified
- Assisting with notice provision to class members
- Handling communication with any involved insurance companies or counsel for the defendant
- Making legal arguments in and out of court
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Representing your interests in court
Class actions can be highly complex cases. A class action lawsuits lawyer can help guide you through the process of litigation and can answer any questions you have along the way.
Contact a Class Action Lawsuits Lawyer Serving Detroit Today
If you were hurt by a corporation and think that your case may qualify as a class action, a Detroit class action lawsuits lawyer is here to help. You are going through enough right now and do not need anything more to worry about. Ben Crump Law, PLLC focuses its practice on helping individuals who have been harmed by the negligent actions of others. Our legal team does not back down against powerful defendants and is ready to assist you. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call us today at (800) 709-1441 to learn more about the process of filing a class action lawsuit with our help.
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