What are class action lawsuits, and why have they become so prominent in the news?
Class action lawsuits are an aspect of tort law, which addresses harm or loss that is caused either deliberately or through carelessness by the actions of another. A class action suit is brought by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group that has a common interest, a common harm. For example, if a product is defective and injures a consumer, that consumer can bring suit against the producer on behalf of all consumers similarly injured. After attorneys fees, any settlement or court award is divided among those participating in the suit. In the Wal-Mart case, six women filed the original action in June 2001, claiming that the giant retailer discriminated against women in salaries and promotions. Approximately 1.6 million women who have worked for Wal-Mart since 1998 are eligible to join the suit. There are several reasons why class action lawsuits have proliferated over the last few decades. Changes in legal procedure have favored the growth. A comprehensive study from the Ran
