What are the benefits of a class action?

A class action allows a plaintiff with relatively small injuries to bring a lawsuit on behalf of all others similarly situated, as if filed by one large group. By aggregating their claims into one action, plaintiffs are able to share the costs of litigation, making it worthwhile to assert their legal rights regardless of the amount of harm suffered by each member of the class. In other words, a class action ensures that defendants who cause widespread harm are forced to compensate every individual harmed, particularly when the cost of pursuing an individual action would cost more than the relief sought.