A class action is a legal procedure that allows one person to represent a group in initiating legal action against another party, without requiring a mandate from the individual members of the group. The goal is to facilitate access to justice by providing compensation to a number of people who have been injured in similar ways by the same action or circumstances. In order to bring forth a class action, the representative must get the approval of the Superior Court. A judge determines whether the appeal has a good legal basis and whether the members of the group have been injured in sufficiently similar ways for the purpose of the case. If the class action is approved by the court, those who are considered members of the specified group but who do not want to be included in the case must take steps to remove themselves from the group. Anyone can do this by sending notice to the office of the court of the Superior Court within the time limit.
City of Montreal