Experienced Representation For Class Action Lawsuits
Large corporations bank on the fact that individual consumers who have been wronged will fail to take action. If a consumer does have the financial means and time to pursue action, the corporation will rely on its army of lawyers to draw the case out and reduce the damage. This is why class action lawsuits are so important.
A class action suit allows a class of consumers who have been wronged to stand up and take collective action against the misdeeds of a corporation. When millions of dollars are on the line, corporations will take notice and have incentive to change their ways.
To successfully pursue class action lawsuits on behalf of consumers, a law firm must have:
- Attorneys with experience pursuing complex civil matters
- The resources to carry the financial burden of litigation
- The organizational skills and capabilities to manage a case with hundreds, thousands or even millions of plaintiffs
At the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman in Woodland Hills, we are committed to protecting the rights of consumers in California and throughout the nation. We pursue class action lawsuits against a wide variety of corporations and entities, with a particular focus on:
- Employment law: Wrongful termination, retaliation, sexual harassment, discrimination, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), hostile work environment, wage and hour laws, and misclassification.
- Consumer rights: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Class Action Lawsuit FAQs
How do you start a class action lawsuit?
A class action claim is different from a standard lawsuit. To successfully file one of these claims, you need to be confident that other people have been harmed by the corporation the same way you were hurt. You don’t need to work with these people from the start of your lawsuit, but you should have proof that they exist.
The first step to pursuing your claim is to file a class action complaint. This is a document drafted by your attorney that describes the events that caused the harm you faced. It also specifies that you’re filing to recover damages for everyone harmed in the same manner as you.
After this document is filed, the judge will examine your case to check if it meets several requirements:
- Were enough people harmed?
- Do the group members have similar injuries and legal complaints?
- Does the case have adequate representation to pursue the claim?
If the answer is yes to all three questions, then the judge will permit the class action to go forward. Otherwise, they may decide that each party needs to file an individual lawsuit instead.
How is money divided in a class action lawsuit?
Unlike individual lawsuits, these settlements are divided among many people. Every participant in the suit receives a share of the settlement after the legal costs are covered. Depending on how many people are included in the case, that could result in settlement money being divided among hundreds or thousands of people.
Depending on the type of settlement, there are four ways those funds can be divided:
- Claims made: Every individual class member needs to make a claim to receive a specific amount set in advance.
- Common fund: The settlement is placed into a single fund and divided between members based on a formula.
- Pro-rata: The settlement is divided equally among all the confirmed group members.
- Vouchers: Rarely, these settlements will offer vouchers or coupons of a specific value to replace defective products.
What is the average payout for class action lawsuits?
Class-action lawsuits frequently lead to settlements of millions of dollars or more. According to research by Nera Economic Consulting, certain suits average a total settlement of $44 million in 2020. However, that money is split multiple ways.
In cases with a relatively small number of class members, that kind of settlement can still lead to individual payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, in cases with millions of members, the money may only lead to a few dollars each. It’s still worthwhile to take part in these lawsuits to receive some money rather than none.
Should you include or exclude yourself from a class action lawsuit?
If someone else has already started a lawsuit for harms like yours, you have a choice to make. You can either include yourself in the claim or exclude yourself from it. Those two options can have significant effects on your legal options in the future
If you choose to include yourself in the case, then you’re identifying yourself as a class member. If the class action suit is successful, then you will receive a share of the damages. However, if the claim fails, you may lose the right to sue the corporation on your own later. If you choose to exclude yourself from a case, on the other hand, you won’t be eligible for settlement funds if it succeeds. Instead, you’ll have the right to file a lawsuit personally.
If you don’t neatly fit with the other members, or if you want to file a personal lawsuit, then you should exclude yourself. Still, if you fit into the class that’s being represented by the suit, then including yourself in the case is the simplest option. Some money is better than none.
Get the Help You Need from the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman in Woodland Hills
If a corporation has harmed you and you believe others have faced the same problems, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. To determine if you have a viable case, we encourage you to speak to our team of experienced attorneys.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our nationwide class action lawyer today.
