A class action lawsuit is where a large number of plaintiffs collectively file a lawsuit for the damages that they have collectively suffered. Class action lawsuits are brought about in circumstances like the Gulf oil spill where large numbers of individuals and businesses have suffered very similarly. The advantage of doing this is that all those lawsuits can be consolidated into one which increases the efficiency of the legal process and lowers the cost of litigation.
Another advantage of class action lawsuits is that they can consolidate a bunch of lawsuits that on their own may not have been worth pursuing through the courts because of their relatively small size. But when these claims are aggregated the total sum being sought in damages can be very substantial and a team of top lawyers can justify the time and expense needed to prosecute the case.
Class action lawsuits are also advantageous in limited fund cases, where there may only be a limited amount of compensation available for the plaintiffs, because it ensures that the early filers of lawsuits don’t get to raid the fund and leave nothing for those that filed their lawsuits later.
Several class action lawsuits have been filed across the Gulf states against those responsible for the Gulf oil spill. Below are the court documents of some typical class action lawsuits:
Complaint: Le Discount Seafood, Inc., et al. v. BP,PLC
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Complaint: T&D Fishery, LLC, et al. v. BP, PLC
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Complaint: Cajun Maid, LLC v. BP, PLC
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Complaint: Sea Eagle Fisheries, Inc., et al. v. BP, PLC
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