You are here

When Can Someone Bring a Lawsuit?

15 January, 2016 - 09:29

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. Explain the requirements for standing to bring a lawsuit in US courts.
  2. Describe the process by which a group or class of plaintiffs can be certified to file a class action case.

Almost anyone can bring a lawsuit, assuming they have the filing fee and the help of an attorney. But the court may not hear it, for a number of reasons. There may be no case or controversy, there may be no law to support the plaintiff’s claim, it may be in the wrong court, too much time might have lapsed (a statute of limitations problem), or the plaintiff may not have standing.