A class action is a type of lawsuit in which one or a few plaintiffs seek to represent hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs with the same or similar claims against the same defendants. Rules of procedure in state and federal courts permit class actions in limited circumstances for the purpose of resolving similar disputes more efficiently than if each plaintiff filed a separate lawsuit.

In Florida, class action lawsuits are governed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 1.220, which mirrors the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. This rule allows one or more plaintiffs to represent a larger group, or class, of individuals in a lawsuit if the class is so numerous that individual lawsuits would be impractical, there are questions of law or fact common to the class, the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. Class actions in Florida are used to address collective legal grievances efficiently when the issues are common to all class members, thereby conserving judicial resources and providing a mechanism for individuals to seek redress for claims that might be too small to pursue individually. The court must certify the class for the case to proceed as a class action, and potential class members are typically notified and given an opportunity to opt out of the class. Both state and federal laws apply to class actions in Florida, with federal law taking precedence in federal question cases or where diversity jurisdiction applies.