Why Do Courts Dismiss Class Action Lawsuits? Find Out
- Author: William Asher
- Posted: 2024-08-15
Class action lawsuits are a powerful way for groups of people to stand up against corporations and other large institutions. By banding together, they can pool resources and increase their chances of success. Most people have benefited from at least one class action lawsuit, whether they know it or not. Unfortunately, courts often dismiss class action lawsuits before they even have a chance to start. There are several reasons why this happens:
The Plaintiffs Do Not Have Standing
For a class action lawsuit to proceed, the plaintiffs must have standing. It means they must have suffered some injury because of the defendants' actions. For example, in a class action lawsuit against a car manufacturer, the plaintiffs might allege that the cars have a design defect that makes them prone to rollovers. However, if the plaintiffs can't show that the design defect is the cause of the rollovers, the court will likely dismiss the case.
The Plaintiff or Attorney Filed the Case in the Wrong Court
It's advisable to research the court's rules before filing a lawsuit. People fail to file in the right court because they may not be familiar with the rules of civil procedure, leading to dismissal. In addition, they may be unable to afford an attorney and try to file the lawsuit themselves. Attorneys also err in this respect, especially if the plaintiff didn't provide enough information or the attorney doesn't have enough experience handling class action lawsuits.
The Statute Of Limitations Has Expired
Plaintiffs can file a class action lawsuit in a limited period set by state law and begin on the date that the cause of action occurred. The court will dismiss the case if the plaintiff does not file the lawsuit within that period. For this reason, they should work with an experienced attorney for timely filing.
The Plaintiff Agreed with the Defendant In Exchange For Giving up the Suit
Class members might negotiate with the defendant outside of court and settle for a smaller amount than the originally sought in the class action lawsuit. In some cases, the plaintiff and defendant might agree to dismiss the case entirely. However, the attorney or plaintiff should notify the court if they plan to dismiss the case.
State Decides To Terminate the Case Due to Changes in Laws
The state may pass a law that makes the cause of action or the damages no longer valid. For example, the state could enact a law that says the filing of product liability actions should happen within two years of the date of the product defect. If you file a class action three years after the defect, the state law would make your claim time-barred.
The Court May Find That the Individual Claims Are Not Similar Enough
The court must find that the claims of all the class members don't rhyme for a collective trial. For example, the court may find that each class member sustained different types of injuries or that the amount of damages suffered by each class member is too different.
The Court May Find That the Class Representatives Do Not Adequately Represent the Class
The court may find that the class representatives' interests are not typical of the interests of the other class members or that the class representatives would adequately protect the interests of the class. For instance, the court may find that the class representatives have interests that conflict with those of the other class members, hence, dismissing the case.
The Attorneys Decided to Stop Pursuing the Case
If the attorney pursuing the case decides to stop, the court may dismiss the case. It could happen for various reasons, such as if the attorney finds that there is not enough evidence to win the case or if the attorney decides that pursuing the case is not in the client's best interests. However, if the attorney decides to continue with the case, the court will not dismiss it despite any objections from the other side.
Filing the Class Action Too Late
In some cases, plaintiffs might file their lawsuits well after the statute of limitations has passed. The statute of limitations is the deadline for filing a case, and it varies depending on the type of claim and the filing state. Therefore, if you wait too long to file your lawsuit, the court will most likely dismiss it.
The above reasons could lead to the termination of a class action suit by a court. For a case to continue, plaintiffs must ensure they follow the proper procedures and file their lawsuit promptly. Furthermore, the attorney leading the charge must be confident in their case and be able to protect the interests of all class members. Understanding why a court might dismiss a class action lawsuit can help ensure your case survives and that you have the best chance at winning damages.
