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 Wyoming, class action lawsuits are governed by Rule 23 of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, which is similar to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 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 joinder of all members is impracticable, 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 Wyoming are used to increase the efficiency of the legal process by allowing claims that are similar in nature to be addressed in a single court proceeding, rather than through multiple lawsuits. This can be particularly useful in situations where the damages per individual might be too small to justify separate lawsuits, but when combined, represent a significant issue that warrants legal action.