Class action

What class action means

In short, class action is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.

Where class action comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion for Class Certification (Fed. R. Civ. P. 23): a request to have a case proceed on behalf of a class of similarly situated people.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if class action appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read class action in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Caption: the heading of a court document identifying the court, the parties, the case number and the document title.
• Chain of title: the sequence of recorded transfers of an interest in property from earlier holders to the current one.
• Clerk of court: the court officer who maintains records, accepts filings and performs duties assigned by the rules, such as entering defaults.
• Collateral estoppel: issue preclusion: an issue actually decided in a prior case may not generally be relitigated by the same parties.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.