Class action cases involve a group or “class” of plaintiffs. This class is represented by a lead plaintiff. The lead plaintiff in a pharmaceutical class action case represents the group and makes important decisions regarding the case. Sometimes this is one person, and other times there is a small group of lead plaintiffs. Generally, the courts will decide who these representatives should be, and will then appoint the lead plaintiff(s).
What Does a Lead Plaintiff Do?
The lead plaintiffs in a pharmaceutical class action case may:
- Choose a pharmaceutical class action lawyer.
- Work closely with the lawyer to make decisions through the course of the lawsuit.
- Make any decisions to accept or reject settlement offers.
The lead plaintiffs work very closely with the lawyers in charge of the case to help achieve a fair outcome for everyone hurt by the defective drug or medical device.
Want to Be a Lead Plaintiff? Know How to Find Your Class
A person who has been hurt by a drug or medical device does not have to find other people who have been similarly hurt before contacting an attorney. While an individual cannot file a class action case without a group of plaintiffs, it is not essential to find that group of plaintiffs before talking to a lawyer. It can be hard for an individual to find people who have been similarly injured by drugs or medical devices alone. However, that doesn’t mean that these individuals don’t exist or that an experienced attorney won’t help find them.
Choosing a Lawyer in a Class Action Lawsuit
A lead plaintiff may look for the following things in an attorney:
- Specific experience. You may want to make sure that the lawyer you choose is familiar with class action cases similar to yours. For example, if you experienced problems with a prescription drug, you should be looking for someone who has experience in class action lawsuits against pharmaceutical and medical companies.
- Appropriate resources. Because class actions can be so large and require much in the way of research, experts, paperwork, and more, it’s important to choose a law firm that has access to ample resources to aid in building your case.
- A history of success. Of course, experience and resources mean nothing without a track record of successful outcomes. Check into the law firm’s history with class action lawsuits similar to yours.
If you or a loved one suffered from a dangerous or defective drug and are interested in starting or joining a class action lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the drug, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. To learn more about how a pharmaceutical class action case works, speak with an experienced class action attorney by calling Hupy and Abraham at 1-800-800-5678 today.