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Practice Areas > Class Actions
What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action is a lawsuit in which one or more named plaintiffs seek relief on behalf of a larger group with related legal claims. It can allow shared issues arising from the same alleged unlawful policy, practice, or conduct to be addressed together rather than through separate lawsuits.
A case does not become a class action simply because several people experienced similar problems. The court must determine whether the proposed class satisfies the applicable certification requirements. Certification allows claims to proceed collectively; it does not establish that the defendant violated the law.
Examples of Potential Class Action Claims
- Unpaid wages: Employees challenge a common payroll practice that allegedly results in unpaid overtime or other compensation.
- Missed meal or rest breaks: Workers allege that shared policies or staffing practices prevented legally required breaks.
- Deceptive advertising: Consumers challenge allegedly misleading product labels or marketing claims used across a group of purchases.
- Unlawful fees: Customers dispute a standardized charge or billing practice they believe violates applicable law.
- Employee benefit disputes: Plan participants challenge shared practices affecting retirement savings or promised benefits.
Could Your Situation Be Part of a Class Action?
If you believe others experienced the same issue, consider these questions:
- Did the same company policy, agreement, product statement, or practice affect multiple people?
- Are there shared legal or factual questions that could be resolved using common evidence?
- Can the affected group be defined using clear criteria?
- Do your records help explain both your experience and the broader practice?
- Would resolving shared issues together offer practical benefits compared with separate cases?
These questions can help identify matters worth investigating, but they do not establish eligibility for class treatment. Differences among individual experiences, applicable laws, arbitration agreements, and other circumstances may affect whether a class action is appropriate.
How Does a Class Action Proceed?
Attorneys investigate the alleged conduct, identify potential claims and class representatives, and gather evidence. If a lawsuit is filed, they may seek class certification. The case may then proceed toward settlement or trial, depending on court rulings and the circumstances.
A settlement resolving class members’ claims requires court approval. Any available payments or other relief depend on the settlement or judgment, class definition, and applicable procedures. Class members do not necessarily receive equal payments, and some cases seek changes in conduct rather than monetary compensation.
Request a Free Case Review
If you believe the same unlawful practice has affected you and others, contact Matern Law Group to discuss whether a class action or another legal approach may be appropriate.
Types of Class Action Lawsuits
Explore the categories below to learn about class actions involving employment practices, consumer transactions, civil rights, and other shared legal concerns.
Antitrust Class Actions
Antitrust class actions are filed against an entity that has violated antitrust laws, thereby resulting in the unlawful and collective economic loss of a group of consumers (plaintiffs).
Civil Rights Class Actions
Class actions addressing social and civil rights have played a significant role in shaping and implementing civil protections for individuals in the United States on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other marginalized identities.
Civil rights cases may also address issues such as fair conduct of police departments and have historically been instrumental in addressing issues such as racial segregation in public schools and lack of accommodations for disabled populations.
Consumer Fraud Class Actions
Class actions formed on account of consumer fraud concern any situation in which an individual, business, or entity has willfully deceived their consumers for monetary gain.
Environmental Class Actions
Environmental issues, such as air pollution or contaminated water, are not problems that typically affect just one or two people. These issues affect groups of people—communities—and can, therefore, involve a number of potential plaintiffs in the event that these affected individuals decide to pursue legal action.
Pharmaceutical Class Actions
Pharmaceutical (drug) class action cases have gained particular prominence in recent years as a result of the opioid crisis, leading to class action suits against large-scale pharmaceutical companies such as Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson.
Product Defect Class Actions
Defective products can become the subject of an individual as well as class action lawsuits, depending on the scope of the issue and how many people are affected.
Workers Rights Class Actions
Class actions that address issues in the workplace, such as discrimination, sexual harassment, failing to comply with wage and hour laws, and other unlawful practices may be classified as workers rights or employment suits.
Workers rights class actions can, in many cases, be more influential on a systemic level than individual lawsuits, which may result in a fruitful individual settlement but may fail to address the root cause of the issue.
Matern Law is the Right Choice for Your Class Action Case
Matern Law Group offers the experience and dedication needed to take on complex legal challenges. Our team of skilled California class action lawsuit lawyers fights for justice and fair compensation in class action cases.
Matern Law Group is backed by a proven record, standing as a trusted ally for individuals and communities. Our California class action attorneys understand the importance of holding corporations accountable for their actions. We leverage their expertise to achieve meaningful results for those they represent.
Get a Free ConsulatationYou deserve clear answers about your rights. Contact Matern Law Group to discuss your situation and explore your legal options.