A consumer class action is a specific type of lawsuit, which is brought to state or federal court by a single plaintiff, or numerous plaintiffs, on behalf of a larger body of people who are in the same situation. These types of lawsuits are grouped to provide a uniform answer to plaintiffs, while also preventing unnecessary congestion in the court system.

In addition, filing a claim independently may not be as cost-efficient. Pursuing the case as a “class” allows individuals to obtain financial compensation while avoiding the potentially incommensurate costs of litigation. Once a case has been formed, the court will determine whether or not it is a true class action through the “class certification” process.