Class Action Lawsuit Attorney in Greensboro NC

If you’ve ever received a letter or email saying “Notice of Class Action,” you’re not alone. Class-action lawsuits are quite common, but not many people outside the legal field understand how they work or how to become a participant.

At Ward Black Law, we can answer all of your questions if you believe you might be eligible to take part in a class-action lawsuit. Our Greensboro, NC, personal injury attorneys have decades of experience handling these cases and are ready to explain what is involved in a class-action suit. We can advise you on your potential next steps and provide any additional guidance you need.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

What Is a Class-Action Lawsuit?

A class-action lawsuit is a legal action taken by a group of people who have all suffered similar harm from the same cause. The group is known as a “class.”

Instead of bringing dozens or hundreds of individual cases to court, the claims are combined into one lawsuit. That makes the whole process simpler and more practical for all involved. If the combined group of plaintiffs wins their case, they will all share in whatever compensation is recovered.

These cases are also sometimes referred to as “mass torts.”

Examples of Common Types of Class Actions

Some of the most common examples of class actions include:

• Personal injury — When large groups all suffer similar injuries at the hands of a single party, they can combine their cases into a class action. In many cases, personal injury lawsuits that become class actions are related to some type of defective product, such as a dangerous drug, defective cars, or injuries from toxic substances. Other examples of personal injury cases that become class actions include suits by sexual assault victims who were all abused by the same person or nursing home residents suing for systemic abuse.
• Securities — If a group of investors are all harmed by fraud or other actions committed by another party, such as investor fraud, the investors can combine their individual claims into a class-action lawsuit against the liable party.
• Consumer lawsuits — When a business engages in practices that harm consumers, such as price-fixing, consumers can band together to bring a class-action suit against the company.
• Discrimination cases — When institutions systematically discriminate against a protected group, members of that group can file a class-action lawsuit to seek justice for the harm they’ve suffered. This type of lawsuit often involves businesses discriminating against certain groups of employees.

What Is the Purpose of a Class-Action Lawsuit?

The fundamental purpose of a class-action lawsuit is the same as any other lawsuit: To allow victims to recover compensation for injuries due to someone else’s negligent or intentional acts and hold the liable parties accountable for what they have done. Allowing plaintiffs who have suffered similar injuries from the same source to combine their cases can wage a united battle for compensation for their injuries.

What Are the Benefits of a Class Action?

Some of the potential benefits of class-action lawsuits include:

• More straightforward court procedures — If all the members of a class-action lawsuit filed their claims individually, the courts could be swamped with cases, and different plaintiffs could have different outcomes. A class-action lawsuit means all the claims will be heard in one courtroom by the same judge and same jury, making everything more practical for everyone involved in the case.
• More affordable — In a class action, there’s one legal team for both sides and only one courtroom involved. That’s considerably cheaper than the expense involved in bringing hundreds or potentially thousands of individual claims to court. In some class-action lawsuits, it might be economically unfeasible to try the cases separately.
• Better chance of success for plaintiffs — In many cases, the plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit have few resources on their own. But in a class action, the plaintiffs can combine their resources, giving them a better chance of winning their case. In addition, all victims get an equal and fair distribution of damages awarded.

What Are the Stages of a Class-Action Lawsuit?

The basic outline of a class-action lawsuit is:

• Hire an attorney — Your lawyer will gather evidence to support your case, including evidence from other potential class members.
• File the lawsuit — Once your legal team has gathered the necessary evidence, they’ll file the lawsuit in whatever court has jurisdiction.
• Obtain class certification — Before a class action lawsuit can proceed, a judge must certify the class. That means that the judge agrees to combine multiple related claims into one lawsuit if it can be demonstrated that there is a proper legal claim with enough class members.
• Notify the class — Once the class has been certified, it’s up to the legal team to notify all potential class members that a lawsuit is moving forward. That can be done through direct mailing or through the Internet. Each member of the class will then have the opportunity to opt in or opt out of the lawsuit.
• Settlement negotiations — Class-action lawsuits often end in a settlement before a full trial is completed. That allows the victims to avoid additional legal expenses and get their money faster.
• Settlement or verdict — If a settlement is reached and approved by the judge, that’s the end of the case. If the parties cannot settle, the trial will continue until a verdict is reached.
• Compensation payout— Once the settlement has been reached or the jury has rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, compensation will be divided among the members of the class who opted to take part in the lawsuit.

How to File a Class-Action Lawsuit

To get started by obtaining class certification for a personal injury lawsuit, you will have to show that you and the other potential plaintiffs have suffered similar harm from the same source. The right lawyer can provide information and guidance on how to do this. If you are interested in pursuing a class-action lawsuit, talk to an attorney with experience handling these unique cases.

Why You Need a Lawyer in a Class-Action Lawsuit

Class action lawsuits are more complicated than other personal injury cases because they deal with claims from many people. A class-action lawsuit requires help from an experienced legal team to handle all the complexities of the case. Without support from a lawyer, it’s unlikely that a class-action lawsuit will ever get off the ground.