What is a "class action lawsuit"?

A class action lawsuit is a legal action where one or more plaintiffs file a case on behalf of a larger group of individuals who share similar legal claims. This mechanism allows individuals with similar grievances—often related to consumer rights, discrimination, or corporate malfeasance—to unite in a single lawsuit, thereby streamlining the legal process and making it more efficient.

In this context, the ability for a few representatives to advocate for a larger group can provide an advantage to those who might not have the resources to pursue individual claims. It emphasizes the collective nature of the grievance and can lead to more substantial settlements or judgments than if each claim were pursued separately. This type of lawsuit also promotes judicial economy, as it reduces the number of individual cases that court systems would need to handle.

The other options do not correctly define a class action lawsuit. For instance, a lawsuit involving a single individual against a corporation addresses individual claims, while a case by a judge alone without a jury pertains to procedural aspects of litigation rather than the group nature of claims in a class action. Similarly, a criminal suit involving multiple defendants refers to criminal law, which is distinctly different from civil class action lawsuits.