Class Action Lawsuit

Class action lawsuits are civil claims which are filed by a group of people who have suffered loss due to the same negligent action. Under civil law a class action claim can only be filed if the group has similar injuries and a "well-defined interest." Class action lawsuits allow plaintiffs to bond together and strengthen their claim. Class action claims are often filed against companies or other large entities to fight against a company's malfeasance.

Common class actions suits included the class action suit against Philip Morris, Inc., which resulted in a $10.1 billion judgment for the plaintiffs and a 1994 suit against the major breast implant manufacturers by women suffering with autoimmune disease allegedly from their silicone breast implants. The suit was against Corning, Baxter, Bristol-Meyers Squibb/MEC, 3M. It was settled for $3.4 billion. Fishermen and canners also successfully filed a lawsuit against Exxon for the Valdez oil spill.