CLASS ACTIONS
A “class action” is when a lawyer, or a plaintiff of the civil case, sues on behalf of a particular class of people. You see it often referred to on American TV programmes or in American news items.
But usually underpinning such an action is the consent of each individual in a particular class allowing a lawyer to take an action on their behalf.
In the movie Erin Brockovich, the heroine filed what some may have thought was a "class action" but you will recall she went around and got the consent of all the clients and then brought a civil action on behalf of each those clients. But the claim was then consolidated into one hearing.
However, in New Zealand, a lawyer can apply to the Court for a direction that an action can be taken on behalf of many people. This is generally known as a "representative" action.
New Zealand does not allow easily for the procedure known as a class action as it is practised and referred to in other jurisdictions such as the United States.
Any number of Plaintiffs may join together in one action against a Defend-
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