What does the term 'class action lawsuit' refer to?

The term 'class action lawsuit' refers to a legal action taken by a group of individuals who have similar grievances against a particular defendant, which, in many cases, is an employer. This type of lawsuit allows a large number of people who have experienced the same or similar harm or injustice to come together to bring a single case to court. The main advantage of a class action is that it enables individuals to pool their resources and address issues that might be too costly or impractical to pursue on their own.

This collective approach not only increases the likelihood of achieving a fair resolution for all parties involved but also encourages accountability from the defendant by highlighting systematic issues faced by multiple plaintiffs. In contrast, a lawsuit involving only a single employee's complaint does not represent the collective interests such as those found in class actions. Ongoing investigations into company practices or formal reports submitted to government agencies do not fit the definition of a class action lawsuit, as they do not involve the collective legal action aspect that characterizes this term.