What is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action is a type of lawsuit where one of the represented parties is a group of people who are represented as a whole by one member of that group. Members of class action lawsuits must have all been harmed in the same way by a defective product or other some other actionable offense.
Featured Class Action Lawsuits
Drugs & Supplements
When drug companies release dangerous and defective drugs to the public, patients who are injured because of it may be able to take legal action and may be entitled to compensation.
- Xarelto
- Valsartan
- Proton Pump Inhibitors – PPI
- TDF Drugs – Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera, Stribild
Medical Devices
When a medical device company is negligent in making sure its products are free from defects, those injured after using those products may be entitled to compensation.
Defective Products
When a company sells a defective product, those who bought the product may be able to file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer for the cost of the product and any damage the product may have caused to the consumer and the consumer’s property.
- 3M Military Earplugs
Environmental Hazards
People who were diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness after being exposed to asbestos or any other environmental hazard may be able to take legal action.
- Mesothelioma
- Roundup Weed Killer
4 things you should know
Class action lawsuits are filed on behalf of a group of people who believe they have suffered from the companies’ actions. Here are 6 things you should know:
- Joining the class means waiving the right to file separately.
Joining a class action lawsuit means you are eligible for compensation but you can no longer file a separate lawsuit against the company. If you think you have been harmed more than everyone else in your class action suit, then consult with a lawyer before deciding not to join the class action lawsuit.
- Strength in numbers.
There should be enough plaintiffs in a class that will make it difficult to bring them before the courts individually. According to most, a class of 40 plaintiffs is a good number for having a class action lawsuit.
- Settlements can take a while.
People and organizations have multiple opportunities to object to or appeal a settlement and then the settlement has to receive approval from the court. Once the settlement is approved and there are no further appeals, class members will begin receiving their portion of the settlement.
- Not everyone will get the same amount.
Class action lawsuit settlements typically reach millions of dollars but that does not mean the plaintiff will get a large amount of the settlement. Since there are so many plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit, the individual settlements can seem relatively small considering it total settlement has to be divided among the class.
The success of the overall lawsuit and the amount awarded to the plaintiff depends on the knowledge and experience of the attorney representing them. The experienced and dedicated attorneys at Ron Austin Law are here to help anyone who has suffered from defective drugs, medical devices, products, and environmental hazards. We have successfully fought hard for our class action clients and have a proven record of getting results. Call us today at 504-227-8100 or send us an email at info@ronaustinlaw.com and an attorney will be available to assist you immediately. Our mission at Ron Austin Law is to get our clients the best results possible.
