The following questions and answers are for educational purposes only and cover just a few topics that are commonly of interest to workers. This material should not be construed as legal advice, the establishment of an attorney-client relationship, or as indicative of a particular outcome regarding any legal issue you might have.
Simply put, a plaintiff class action is a lawsuit in which the claims and rights of many people are decided in a single court proceeding and which is led by one or more representative plaintiffs.
To ensure fairness in a class action, the court supervises the prosecution of the class-wide claims through attorneys appointed to represent the plaintiffs. While many cases are labeled “class actions” when filed, the court must approve the definition assigned to the class at some point B either during litigation or at the time of settlement—before the claims of all class members can be resolved. In other words, class “certification” must be granted before each class member can be bound by any judgment or entitled to participate in a class-wide settlement.
Although we cannot make promises about what other law firms may do, we always work on a “contingency fee” basis -- that is, we don't get paid unless you and/or the class members win. We are only able to do this because of our lengthy and excellent track record of success in employment class action cases.
Filing a class action lawsuit is a decision that should be made only after answering several questions. Some of these questions include:
- How likely is it that the violations will continue if I don't stop them?
- Do those violations affect me?
- To what extent have my co-workers or I lost time or money because of what our current or past employer has done?
If you are not sure how to answer these questions, we know how to help you. Whatever you do, however, make sure you discuss your concerns with an attorney experienced in class action litigation before making a decision about pursuing a new case.
Scott Cole & Associates won't charge you a penny for discussing a potential case. You can contact us by e-mail, regular mail, or telephone, in confidence. Remember, even if you choose not to pursue a case for yourself, you may be helping others just by talking to us.
We cannot predict the future, read crystal balls or anything of that kind. However, our vast experience makes us an excellent source of information and very skilled at representing our clients. We promise to keep everything you tell us about a potential case private (unless you instruct us otherwise) and we promise to provide unparalleled legal counsel.
There are many ways to search for excellent legal representation, such as through the internet or through local referral services. Whatever method you use, do your homework and ask questions about the law firm's experience with the particular issues you face. A good track record speaks volumes.
Scott Cole & Associates' attorneys are top-notch lawyers and our law firm enjoys a reputation as being one of the premier class action law practices in California. Despite that reputation, we encourage any potential client to “interview” us - just as he or she would any other professional - before making a decision regarding representation. If you are not entirely comfortable with moving beyond the initial “interview,” then don't. We will not advise you otherwise. In the end, you should be completely at ease with whatever choice you make.
