The basic necessities, like food and housing, are the first things that come to mind when thinking about getting support. However, there are plenty of other forms of assistance people in need can get. This includes assistance with legal representation. One way to get this type of support is through class-action lawsuits, or “mass tort litigation.” With this support option, it’s possible for eligible individuals to get legal services for free! This may have a great impact on someone’s life. However, this type of lawsuit involves a unique process and set of conditions. In this article, we will shed light on how they work.
Understanding Mass Tort Litigation
To better understand how class-action lawsuits work, let’s look at this example. Let’s say you work for a company with 100–500 employees. One day, the company made a decision violating the law and affecting 30 employees, including yourself. Normally, you and your co-workers would want to sue the company to claim your rights. However, it would cost each one of you a lot of money to go to court individually. This is where class-action lawsuits might be the right solution for you. Since all 30 of you have the same claim, you can be considered one entity and file a lawsuit with a single legal representative. In this way you will be able to save money and claim your rights at the same time.
In other words, class-action lawsuits allow a group of victims to file a single case against a certain entity. This is particularly effective when dealing with big corporations or enterprises. Typically, mass tort litigation involves three parties:
- Plaintiffs: These are the people who file the claim. Generally, a lead plaintiff will take care of filing a lawsuit on behalf of all victims in this type of litigation.
- Defendants: The entity that is facing trial.
- Legal representation: The lawyers representing both sides – the plaintiffs and the defendants.
Why do People Usually Seek Class-Action Lawsuits?
Class-action lawsuits are common for many reasons. In these lawsuits, multiple separate claims may be rolled into one action. As a result, the process might be more manageable for everyone involved. People may decide to file a class-action lawsuit in the following situations:
- Violations of contracts
- Discrimination claims in the workplace
- Defective medication
- Deceptive or misleading marketing
- Illegal business practices
How Does a Person Start a Class-Action Lawsuit?
When it comes to legal services, people assume it’s complicated. However, this is not necessarily the case with class-action lawsuits. With the right guidance, the whole process can be easy and smooth. That’s why it’s important to choose the attorney who will represent you carefully. You will want to find a cooperative lawyer with solid expertise who can help you throughout the entire trial.
First, they will help you figure out if a class action lawsuit is the best course of action for your circumstances. If it turns out to be a good fit for you and the other victims involved, the lawyer will file a claim on everyone’s behalf. However, if this option will not work for you, your lawyer will be able to suggest another option and guide you down the right path.
What are the Benefits of a Class-Action Lawsuit?
By now, you should have understood how class-action lawsuits are different from regular, individual claims. However, there is more to these lawsuits that you should be aware of. In fact, class-action lawsuits come with several advantages. Sometimes, those who decide to sue a business may spend thousands on legal fees without receiving more than a few hundred in compensation in individual cases. However, people will have fewer risks to face with this type of lawsuit. In these cases, plaintiffs frequently pay their attorney on a contingency fee basis, which means that no payment will be due until the case is over. You might get compensation, but you shouldn’t expect that to happen in every case. However, if the judge rules in your favor, there will be some factors affecting the amount of compensation you will receive.
Famous Class-Action Lawsuits in American History
The United States has a long history of mass tort litigation. You might be familiar with the following:
Zantac Heartburn Medication
When it comes to health, the slightest mistake can cause disaster. That’s why the Zantac heartburn medication case was so well-known. Ranitidine, which is sold under the brand name Zantac, was taken off the market by its respective manufacturers owing to the potential risk of cancer. The drug was believed to cause other health issues as well. It has been linked to a wide variety of cancers, including bladder, stomach, liver, and others. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the ranitidine in Zantac contains NDMA, which is an unstable molecule that is considered a likely carcinogen.
Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder
Did you know that using baby powder may cause cancer! Researchers have found strong evidence that baby powder containing talcum raises the risk of ovarian cancer. As a matter of fact, Drug Watch found that women who used talcum powder on their genitalia were 33% more likely to get ovarian cancer. On top of this, inhaling talcum powder with carcinogens, like asbestos, may lead to serious health problems. Plaintiffs claim that this information is sufficient to support legal action, particularly because the manufacturers of these products failed to provide proper warnings about the potential negative effects.
Catholic Church Abuse
Clergy abuse victims from all across the world have filed lawsuits against the Catholic Church. As more and more victims step forward to share their stories, claims against the church grow. To enable older victims to pursue lawsuits to hold the Catholic Church accountable, certain jurisdictions have even postponed or extended the statute of limitations. Bishop Accountability, a non-profit organization, claims that the Catholic Church has paid over $3 billion in significant settlements and court awards in the United States alone. However, the Catholic Church has not publicly revealed the actual amount of money it has paid.
All in All
The next time you need to file a claim, you should consider class-action lawsuits. Class-action lawsuits are popular for various reasons, including:
- Violations of contracts
- Discrimination claims in the workplace
- Defective medication
- Deceptive or misleading marketing
- Illegal business practices
They can be the best option to go for, especially if more than one victim is in the same situation. This way, you can save money on attorney fees and have an easier process. Also, you may not need to pay your lawyer before winning the trial. As a general rule of thumb, you will need to contact an experienced lawyer to start this lawsuit. It’s important to remember that the amount of compensation you might receive will be determined according to the judge’s final decision.