OPO MASS TORTS

CLASS ACTION

Protecting the rights of victims & their families since 1977

Both mass torts and class actions involve multiple plaintiffs. In each type of case, the plaintiffs have been harmed by the same negligent party. But these two types of cases are not identical.

Mass torts and class actions are distinguished in terms of the type and extent of the harm to the victims. The difference in harm results in the plaintiffs being treated differently.

Class Actions
In a class action, all the plaintiffs are considered to be a single “class.” The interests of the class are collectively represented in the suit. Rather than each plaintiff being considered separately, a small number of representative plaintiffs bring suit for the harm done to the entire class.

Some advantages of class actions include:

• Ability to represent plaintiffs who cannot appear in court
• Simpler than filing multiple overlapping tort claims
• Litigation expenses are spread across many plaintiffs

While these benefits exist, a group of plaintiffs must meet some requirements before they can file a class action suit. For instance, a court must certify the plaintiffs as a “class” based on certain criteria. These criteria include:

• Enough plaintiffs that multiple lawsuits are impractical
• All claims must involve common legal questions and questions of fact
• Representatives must have claims that are typical of the class
• Representatives must be able to protect the interests of the class

One of the difficulties of class action suits is showing that all of the plaintiffs have suffered the same loss or injury. Because of this, class actions are often useful when the damage to the plaintiffs is exclusively financial.

For instance, suppose that several consumers bought a faulty product for which a company fraudulently or negligently charged them. Economic damages are easier to calculate. When the damages are only economic, class certification is easier to obtain. A common example of this can be seen with product recalls that require other products to be serviced for the problem to be fixed, which is what happened with airbags. Certain brands of airbags were recalled, and that required thousands of cars to have their airbags replaced. Because the harm incurred by most of these plaintiffs was the cost of having their airbags replaced, the damage to each plaintiff was similar and easier to calculate.

Mass Tort Cases
Unlike a class action, a mass tort case can involve multiple plaintiffs claiming different levels of harm. In a mass tort, each individual plaintiff has a distinct claim of injury though, similar to a class action, they are against the same business or entity.

In other words, members of a mass tort case all sustained similar harm, but the extent of the damage may differ from one person to the next. Each plaintiff’s claim of harm is evaluated individually. Because of this, mass torts usually result in larger verdicts or settlements than class-action suits.

Mass tort cases offer an effective course of action for people who are victims of large corporations and government institutions. When you combine your claim with others who were harmed in a similar way, you will:

• Expedite the process of filing suit
• Help the group to exhaust all possible legal arguments
• Build a powerful legal case by proving widespread harm
• Have the best chance of recovering adequate financial compensation
• Ensure that similar injuries do not occur in the future

Mass torts allow you to pursue the compensation you deserve, while also acknowledging the unique extent to which you have been injured.

The experienced legal team at OPO has decades of experience in fighting massive companies and organizations. If you have been harmed by a defective product or unsafe medication, you should not bear the costs of your injuries on your own. Let our skilled mass tort attorneys fight to win the financial recovery that is rightfully yours.

In the context of a mass tort, each case is individually evaluated. This means that each plaintiff may recover different damages. The specific losses that you sustained due to the at-fault party’s negligence will determine your financial recovery.

Common types of damages include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Lost income and wages from missed work
• Long-term loss of earning capacity
• Disfigurement or disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma (such as stress, anxiety, and panic)

In the context of mass torts, a skilled lawyer can help you to recover financial compensation that reflects the specific damages in your case.

The mass tort attorneys at OPO will work hard to ensure that you receive the money you deserve.

When you secure our services, our qualified team will:

• Use medical records to connect your injuries to the defective product
• Build a powerful case against the defendant’s position
• Prepare all necessary documentation for filing your mass tort case
• Guide your claim throughout the entire legal process

You will have the support of our knowledgeable legal professionals. Our clients know firsthand that we value fairness and justice. Our lawyers have a strong commitment to righting wrongs for our clients. We will leverage our legal expertise to build the strongest case possible for you.

No case is too complex, and no opponent is too intimidating. OPO has the resources and years of experience necessary to successfully recover compensation in mass tort cases.

With a 99% success rate, we are completely confident that we can secure the recovery that you deserve. Since 1977. Contact OPO today for a free legal consultation regarding your case.

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