class action

American  

noun

1. a legal proceeding in which persons representing interests common to a large group participate as representatives of the group or class.

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class action British  

noun

1. law a legal action undertaken by one or more people representing the interests of a large group of people with the same grievance

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Other Word Forms

• class-action adjective

Etymology

Origin of class action

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Under UK law, all potentially affected persons are included in this type of class action by default, and may benefit from possible compensation, unless they voluntarily opt out.

From Barron's

In February, a federal judge in California ruled that ICE was required to provide “constitutionally adequate healthcare” in their in-state facilities after seven detainees filed a federal class action lawsuit against the agency and DHS.

From Los Angeles Times

Both companies are facing class actions from customers seeking their refunds.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to a recent federal class action lawsuit, a group of refugees arrested in Minnesota and flown to Texas were let go of the detention center without any documents or means of getting home.

From Salon

“But the problem is, even with a class action, how much is the lawyer?”

From The Wall Street Journal