What is a class or collective action?

In a class or collective action lawsuit, one or more people called the “class representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people who have similar claims against the same company. The people who are suing are called the plaintiffs, and they make up a class. The company or companies they sue are called the defendants. In some class actions, the judge or jury resolves the claims for everyone in the class unless they ask to be excluded. In other types of class actions, each class member must ask to be included in the lawsuit. This case involves both a collective and a class action. That means people who believe they are in the class have a better chance of getting what they deserve if they ask to be included.