A class action is the term given to a lawsuit against an organisation or an individual (the defendant), brought about by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group (known as the 'class').
According to Wikipedia, class actions originated in the United States but are nowadays used across Canada and Europe in countries with civil law.
What types of legal class action are there?
Plaintiffs can act on behalf of a larger group to bring about a legal class action for any number of reasons. It may be something related to a product sold, known as product liability, or similarly, intellectual property. It may also relate to antitrust or competition, fraud or banking litigation. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices are also commonly the subject of class action cases.
What are the r...