Class action

A class action (or a representative action) is a form of lawsuit where a plaintiff brings a claim to court as the representative of a class of people similarly situated. This form of collective lawsuit originated in the United States and is still predominantly a U.S. phenomenon. However, in several European countries with civil law (as opposed to the English common law principle, which is used by U.S. courts), changes have in recent years been made that allow consumer organizations to bring claims on behalf of large groups of consumers.