Class Actions

What is a Class Action Lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit that is filed on behalf of `several people. Class action lawsuits are filed when it is not practical to bring each individual’s claim under a separate lawsuit.

What is Required to File a Class Action Lawsuit?

In order to file a class action lawsuit, the legal claim must impact more than one person. There is no minimum number of people needed to file a class action lawsuit. However, class action lawyers tend to look for cases involving 25 or more people. This is because the court does not often approve class action lawsuits of less than 25 people.

How is a Class Action Lawsuit Different Than an Individual Employee Lawsuit?

An individual lawsuit deals with the legal issues and/or claims pertaining to one employee (i.e., only one person is affected). By contrast, a class action lawsuit involves a group of employees who are dealing with the same legal issues

When Should You File a Class Action Lawsuit Against An Employer?

A class action is best suited when multiple people have the same legal complaint(s) against their employer. One common type of class action suit for employees is for wage and hour claims.

Some instances in which people may file a class action lawsuit is if several employees were not paid overtime for their work or if several employees are being denied their meal or rest breaks. Additionally, a class action may be appropriate where several employees are all being discriminated against for the same reason (e.g., because of their race, age, sex, or disability, etc.).

Steps in a Class Action Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit is one of the most complex types of legal actions. Thus, it is highly encouraged that you speak to a lawyer experienced with class actions.

There are several steps involved in a class action lawsuit. After the plaintiffs file the case, they will have to wait for a response from the defendant/employer. The employer will then need to file a response, typically called an Answer. They can also request that the court dismiss the case and the court will decide whether or not to move forward with the case.

The defendant has the opportunity to challenge the validity of the case. The judge must then determine whether the case will be certified as a class action lawsuit. If the judge allows the case to proceed as a class action lawsuit, the case will move forward to trial.

Types of Relief

Most employment class action lawsuits revolve around unpaid wages. These cases are often resolved by having the employer pay the employees what they are owed, statutory penalties, and attorneys fees incurred.

Contact A Class Action Attorney

People who feel that their rights have been violated in the workplace should contact our California labor and employment lawyers right away. If you and your co-workers have been forced to work off the clock, have not been paid for overtime, have been denied your meal or rest breaks, or have had other legal rights violated, you should immediately contact our California employment attorneys. Our employment attorneys can discuss your situation and inform you of all your legal rights. They can also inform you whether it is a good idea to move forward with a class action lawsuit or an individual lawsuit.

Our qualified employment lawyers are highly-trained and have extensive experience with cases that may be similar to yours. They are committed to helping you resolve your legal issues as quickly as possible while receiving the best results.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay us if we get compensation for you. You can reach our legal team 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-247-9235 or emailing info@employmentattorneylosangeles.com