John W. Redmann | July 10, 2025 | Product Liability
You might’ve heard the term class action lawsuit but might not have understood what this means. If you were harmed by a defective product or in a similar way as many other people, you may have grounds to file a class action lawsuit. An experienced attorney can discuss your situation and whether a class action lawsuit is an option for you.
Basics of Class Action Lawsuits
A class action is a type of civil lawsuit in which one or more individuals sue on behalf of a larger group of people. The class has been harmed similarly by the same defendant.
Class action lawsuits can apply to various types of cases, but all class participants must have been harmed in a similar manner. These civil cases allow many people with relatively small individual claims to join together to pursue legal action against the same defendant, making the process more cost-effective and efficient.
Class actions can be brought in state or federal court. If the matter concerns federal laws or involves parties from different jurisdictions, it will likely be filed in federal court.
It is easier for courts to manage a single class action case than having dozens or more similar cases filed simultaneously. The case’s outcome applies to all members and prevents them from bringing their own case unless they opt out.
How Class Action Lawsuits Differ from Individual Personal Injury Lawsuits
Class action cases can sometimes involve personal injury matters, such as airplane crashes. However, the process, procedure, and outcomes for these cases vary.
In an individual lawsuit, you file a complaint against the defendant in court. You will typically be responsible for proving negligence. You may testify about how the accident occurred and how it affected you. The case is only about you, not other people. Any proceeds you win will go to you and your legal team.
In a class action lawsuit, you probably won’t testify or be involved in much of the process if you’re not a class representative. The case may be about many people besides you. The method used to divide the proceeds from a class action lawsuit varies by each case, so it’s important you work with legal counsel and understand this before you proceed.
Examples of Class Action Lawsuits
Many different types of cases can result in a class action lawsuit, with some of the most common including:
- Mass torts involve multi-district litigation. They are similar to class action cases in that they involve many plaintiffs with similar claims. However, each plaintiff maintains their own separate case. Examples of mass torts include cases involving Juul vape pens, 3M earplugs, and Roundup herbicide injuries.
- Product liability cases concern defective products that cause injuries to consumers.
- Consumer complaints may involve deceptive marketing, unfair business practices, or fraud that harms consumers.
- Cases involving pollution, contamination, or other environmental damage are sometimes the subject of class action lawsuits.
A personal injury lawyer can listen to your story and help determine if your situation could amount to a class action lawsuit.
Requirements for Class Action Lawsuits
When class action cases are brought in federal court, they must conform to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which require demonstrating the following characteristics of all claims:
- Commonality: The claims share common questions of law or fact.
- Typicality: The claims by the class representatives are typical of those for the rest of the class.
- Numerosity: The number of class members makes joining them individually in the action impractical.
- Adequacy of representation: The proposed class representative’s claims are typical of those for the rest of the class.
An experienced attorney can review your situation and determine if you qualify for relief through a class action lawsuit.
Contact the Metairie Product Liability Lawyers of The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC for Help Today
Class action lawsuits can allow people who have been similarly harmed to join together to seek justice and accountability more efficiently and cost-effectively. A Metairie personal injury lawyer from the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. can review your case for free and explain your legal options.
If you were injured in an accident in Metairie or Gretna, Louisiana, and need legal help, contact our product liability attorneys at The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, to schedule a free case review today.
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