Injury Lawyer In Reno Explains Class Action Suits
A class action lawsuit is one that is filed for a group, or “class,” of people sharing injuries sustained by a single entity, business or organization. Usually these types of suits result from a product liability issue. An example is a lawsuit filed against drug companies on behalf of people injured by their products. Participation in a class action lawsuit has several advantages and disadvantages that should be discussed with an experienced injury lawyer in Reno.
Types Of Class Action Suit Awards
Awards issued from a successful class action lawsuit are in two categories: punitive and compensatory. Punitive awards are a form of “punishment” directed at the company or organization for their actions. These awards can be quite large. Compensatory damages address monetary awards caused by the defendants’ actions resulting in illness, injury, pain and suffering, and loss of life.
Jury Trial May Be Necessary
If opposing parties cannot reach an out-of-court settlement, the case may go to a jury trial. Jury trials are complicated and usually involve many levels, including appeals. Defendants usually seek to arrive at settlements because these are typically much lower than awards determined by a jury.
Class Action Reduces Litigation Costs
The primary benefit derived from a class action lawsuit is reduced costs. This is especially true in cases involving a good number of plaintiffs. In fact, both sides benefit since one effort representing multiple clients, results in reduced court costs and injury lawyer fees for both sides.
Court System Benefits As Well
The nation’s courts usually have their resources stretched thin. Therefore, the court system actually encourages class action suits, rather than multiple cases, all of which are against the same company. Filing a class action suit avoids the inconsistent results that can be rendered by multiple judges.
Economy In Multiple Plaintiffs
Individual court cases in many suits do not warrant the expenses incurred by one injury lawyer or firm due to small awards. Class action cases solve this situation. For example, a company may be sued for overcharging customers $25 each. A lone individual would never sue in this situation. However, if there are a few hundred or thousand complainants, the potential combined award makes a single effort worth the undertaking.
Trial Case Lengths Can Be Troublesome
A huge disadvantage with a class action lawsuit is the trial length. Primary trial outcomes are typically called on appeal, thus prolonging the already lengthy process a jury trial entails. The appeal process can actually lag on for several years.
Class Action Is Representative Litigation
Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit typically sign away decision-making rights to an injury lawyer representative. The attorneys will then make all case decisions without the need to confer with members of the class action suit.
Before deciding to pursue a class action suit, you should always consult an injury lawyer in Reno.
