Class Actions

A class action is a type of lawsuit in which a group of seven or more people collectively sue another party, typically a company or organisation, for similar legal claims. The group, or “class”, is made up of individuals who have suffered a similar harm or injury as a result of the defendant’s actions or products.

The purpose of a class action is to enable individuals who have suffered harm or loss, that may not otherwise have the resources to make a claim, to band together and seek justice as a group. Class actions are commonly used in cases involving consumer fraud, product liability, securities fraud, employment discrimination, and environmental contamination.

If a court certifies a class action, all members of the defined class are considered part of the lawsuit, even if they did not individually initiate the lawsuit. If the class action is successful, damages are distributed among the plaintiffs, usually based on the severity of their individual losses.

To start a Class Action in Australia, you must:

1. Have a group of 7 or more individuals as claimants
2. These individuals must be connected by the same or similar circumstances
3. The claim must pertain to at least one shared legal or factual issue.