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Civil litigation

class actions

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 Tennessee, class action lawsuits are governed by the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 23, which is similar to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules allow one or more plaintiffs to represent a larger group with common legal or factual issues in a single lawsuit, provided certain criteria are met. The criteria include having a class that is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, common questions of law or fact, typical claims or defenses of the representative parties, and that the representatives will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. Class actions in Tennessee can be used for a variety of claims, including consumer fraud, corporate misconduct, and mass torts. The purpose of a class action is to provide an efficient and economical means for large groups of individuals to resolve common legal issues, and to provide a mechanism for individuals whose claims might be too small to pursue individually to seek redress. The court must certify a lawsuit as a class action before it can proceed as such.

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Civil litigation

class actions

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Tennessee State Code

Tennessee State Code

Civil litigation

class actions

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