When corporate policies, employers, or service providers violate the rights of a large group, one person’s voice may not be enough. At Held & Hines LLP, our New York class action attorneys empower individuals to band together, level the playing field, and secure justice and financial recovery on behalf of entire communities.
A class action allows numerous individuals—each affected by the same unlawful conduct—to file a single lawsuit against one or more defendants. In New York, class-action procedures follow both federal Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and state-court requirements under CPLR Article 9.
Small claims that would be impractical individually become powerful when aggregated.
One court proceeding addresses common issues, saving time and legal expense.
Companies are more likely to change harmful practices when facing large-scale claims.
To proceed as a class action, the court must certify the class by finding:
Too many members for individual suits to be practical.
Shared legal and factual issues across the class.
Class representatives’ claims mirror those of the group.
Lawyers and representatives protect everyone’s interests.
In New York state courts, CPLR § 901 enhances these standards with specific notice and opt-out protocols.
Unpaid overtime, misclassification, discrimination, unpaid benefits.
Defective products, deceptive advertising, unfair billing practices.
Unauthorized data collection, breach notification failures.
Fraudulent disclosures, breach of fiduciary duties.
For FLSA and ADEA claims, we guide “opt-in” collective actions where each member consents to join, maximizing recovery for unpaid wages or discrimination.
Interviews, document review, expert analysis to identify class-wide harms.
Crafting persuasive motions to meet Rule 23/CPLR standards.
Negotiating fair settlements or litigating through trial when needed.
Regular updates and individualized support throughout the process.
Timelines vary by complexity, but we’ll outline milestones—from certification motions to distribution—so you know what to expect.
Only the designated class representative(s) testify; other class members typically participate through documentation and votes.
Courts approve distribution plans that allocate recovery equitably, often based on individual damages or claim levels.
State-court class members may “opt out” within the court’s deadline; collective-action participants must affirmatively “opt in.”
If you’ve been affected by unfair corporate practices, discriminatory workplace policies, or widespread consumer harm, you don’t have to fight alone. Contact Held & Hines LLP today for a free consultation. Let our New York class action team help you turn individual grievances into collective power.
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