A civil action brought by one or more individuals on behalf of themselves and “all others similarly situated” (or equivalent language). The purpose of a class action is to secure a judicial remedy which not only eliminates a wrong committed against an individual, and compensates him or her for the effects of that wrong, but which also provides such remedies for all others in a definable class who have suffered as a result of the same practice or practices.
You are not charged any fee or cost for joining a class action – legal counsel is paid a contingency fee from the compensation recovered, if successful.