What characterizes a "class action" lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is characterized by being filed on behalf of a larger group of individuals who share common legal issues, often related to similar harm or grievances caused by the same defendant, such as a corporation. This type of lawsuit allows numerous people to collectively seek legal redress without each individual needing to file separate actions, which can be inefficient and costly. Class action suits are typically used in scenarios involving consumer rights, product liability, or civil rights violations, among others.

This collective approach is critical because it ensures that the claims of smaller, individual plaintiffs can be brought to light within the legal system when they might not be viable on their own due to the costs of litigation. It also helps to prevent inconsistent judgments on similar claims and results in a more efficient judicial process. In contrast, other options describe different legal contexts: an individual lawsuit against a corporation is not representative of a class; small claims court typically deals with lower monetary disputes among individuals and lacks the collective aspect; and a general legal process for resolving disputes encompasses all forms of litigation, not just class actions.