Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs class action lawsuits, where one or more people sue on behalf of a larger group with similar claims. The rule sets criteria for when such a case can proceed as a class action, including that the claims raise common legal or factual issues, the representatives’ claims are typical of the class, and the class is manageable. Additionally, courts must ensure that the rights of individual members are protected and that the class action is a fair way to resolve the dispute efficiently, avoiding duplicate or inconsistent judgments.