Relates to attorneys' fees in class actions

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

This bill would give the courts the authority to give class represen- tatives additional awards for their work advancing a class action lawsuit. In a class action, an individual, or class member, can join a lawsuit but may play no role in the trial. A class representative is the individual whose case is being tried, and they will retain a lawyer who will represent them, collect documents related to the case, speak on behalf of the class, and more. This process can come at a great personal and economic expense, and the court may deem it appropriate for the initiating class representative/s to receive a higher award. A class action lawsuit typically begins with an individual engaging an attorney who will investigate and see if a claim or violation of the law exists. An attorney may then determine if other individuals have similar claims which then may be brought as a group, or class. Sometimes a class action lawsuit may involve hundreds of plaintiffs. In the class action lawsuit of Saska v. Metropolitan Museum of Art, the court ruled in favor of the class and due to the work of the class representatives, they wanted to grant an additional award. The court then realized that the law does not allow for a separate incentive award for class repre- sentatives. The court noted that the issue was not whether the class representatives deserved to be compensated, but that such awards are not currently permitted by statute. This bill will rectify this in the law and honor the efforts of class representatives.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.