North Carolina Class Action
Understanding Class Action in North Carolina
North Carolina class action lawsuits are different from other types of legal actions in more ways than simply the number of plaintiffs involved. Before joining a class action lawsuit, there are many steps and legal concepts with which you should familiarize yourself.
Class actions address common problems
On the simplest level, North Carolina class action lawsuits are a way for people who share a problem to seek a common solution. Most people learn that they are eligible to join a class action lawsuit through a mailed notice. This notice advises them of a common issue that they may face with respect to a particular product, medication, or other issue for which another individual has filed a legal action.
Understanding class action procedure
A class action lawsuit can be filed in state or federal court. Because of recent changes in class action laws in North Carolina, these actions are now filed primarily in federal court, but state class action lawsuits are still possible.
All lawsuits, class action or otherwise, begin with the filing of a complaint specifying both the issue and the compensation that the plaintiff is seeking. In a class action lawsuit, the plaintiff who files the suit seeks to represent the entire class.
Researching class actions
A class action notice contains the names of the attorneys representing both sides in the lawsuit. You can contact either of these attorneys with any questions you may have regarding the suit. A website may have been set up to provide such details. If this is the case, the site should be listed on your notice.
The class action notice also informs you where the case is being litigated, and provides its docket number. This lets you access the court website, and enables you to research detailed information about the current status of the case.
Recent changes in class action law make it more beneficial to join class action lawsuits. Judges must consider class action settlements to ensure that plaintiffs receive something of value should they win the case, so read your notice carefully before deciding whether or not to join a North Carolina class action lawsuit.
Solid legal guidance from an experienced class action attorney
Please contact the North Carolina class action law firm of Schiller & Schiller PLLC to discuss with confidence and confidentiality your potential membership in a class action case and the possibility of serving the common good as a class representative.
