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Class Action Suits
Class action lawsuits provide legal recourse for many individuals who might otherwise be unable to bring individual claims. These are complex lawsuits that are brought by one person or a few people on behalf of many more people who have similar claims.
For example, if a major company illegally charges its customers a dollar or two, those consumers would not be able to hire a lawyer to individually pursue such a small amount. Class action lawsuits, however, take into account the entire amount that a company gained by illegally charging all of the customers, several hundreds of thousands or possibly even millions of dollars.
Cincinnati Class Action Suits Lawyer
If you believe that you have been the victim of an illegal or fraudulent action that might have affected several other people, you should contact a knowledgeable attorney to see if you have a possible class action claim. Steiden Law Offices pursues class action litigation on behalf of clients in such Ohio and Kentucky communities as Cincinnati, Norwood, Forest Park, Montgomery, Reading, Springdale, Union, Walton, Erlanger, Edgewood, Elsmere, Villa Hills, and Fort Mitchell.
We stand up for consumers who have been wronged by multinational corporations, local companies or other types of businesses. You can call to take advantage of a free consultation to let our firm review your case.
Ohio and Kentucky Class Action Suits Overview
- What is needed in order to file a class action lawsuit?
- What kinds of issues do these lawsuits address?
- What does it mean to "opt in" or "opt out" of a class action?
- How are class actions different from mass torts?
Prerequisites of Kentucky and Ohio Class Action Suits
In general, a claim has four requirements that have to be met in order to proceed with class action litigation:
- Numerous Class Size — The number of plaintiffs in the class needs to be so large enough that it would be impractical for them to pursue their claims individually. This is not any specific number, but having more plaintiffs with the same claim only helps your chances of being certified as a class.
- Commonality of Legal Claims — You and the other members of the proposed class all need to have the same questions of law or fact. That means that all class members should have the same experiences and evidence against the defendant.
- Same Legal Remedies — This means that all class members suffered similar wrongdoing and no plaintiff claims to have suffered more harm of financial loss than any of the other plaintiffs.
- Adequate Representation — The attorneys and the lead plaintiffs representing the class must fairly and adequately represent the interests of all class members. In other words, the lawyers and the lead plaintiffs cannot negotiate a settlement that gives them large monetary awards while the remaining plaintiffs receive coupons.
Types of Claims in Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio Class Action Suits
There are several legal issues that can be addresses through class action litigation. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Breach of contract
- Civil rights
- Consumer protection law violations
- Dangerous drugs
- Deceptive, illegal, or unfair business practices
- Defective products
- Environmental issues
- Fraud
- Illegal fees
- Insurance disputes
- Investments
- Securities
Opting In and Opting Out of Class Action Suits
In many types of class action litigation, class members will be given the option of participating in any negotiated settlement. These class members will typically receive notice of the settlement, and can do either of the following:
- Opt In — By opting in, a person accepts the term of the settlement and notifies the court of his or her desire to be included in the class
- Opt Out — By opting out, a person chooses not to accept the settlement terms and possible leaves open the possibility of pursuing his or her own individual claim for more money
If a class member does not respond to a notice, he or she will not receive a share of the settlement but will have to abide by the terms of the settlement.
Class Action Suits vs. Mass Torts
Keeping in mind that class action litigation serves people who have all suffered the same wrongdoing by the same defendant, mass torts are a different form of civil action for large groups of plaintiffs who have suffered differing levels of harm. For example, plaintiffs in a mass tort that relates to a large disaster or product liability claim can have individual claims that range from minor injuries to death. Thus, the damage awards in those cases can be different for every plaintiff involved.
Find a Class Action Suits Lawyer in Cincinnati
Do you think that you may have a legal claim that is grounds for class action litigation? Steiden Law Offices represents clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we do not charge you anything unless we win your case.
We have been helping residents of Hamilton County in Ohio as well as Boone County and Kenton County in Kentucky for 25 years. Let us review your case during a free legal consultation by contacting our firm today at .
