How does a class proceedings claim work?
A class proceedings claim is a civil lawsuit where one or more persons, called “class representatives,” sue on behalf of a class of people. The following simple example will illustrate the effect of a class proceeding claim and how it works. Consider the situation of an employee of a large company that employs 1,000 other employees in an identical position. Suppose that this particular employee has discovered that the company owes him or her overtime pay in the amount of $1,000. Without class proceedings legislation, the recourse of that customer consists of a complaint to the company or some administrative board and/or perhaps an action in small claims court for recovery of the $1,000 owed. Under a class proceedings claim, the customer can commence a proceeding as a representative plaintiff on behalf of himself/herself and all 1,000 employees who are similarly affected. In such a situation, there is now exponential amount at stake because all 1,000 employees have overtime claims again
