A class action is a form of collective litigation in which one or more representative claimants bring proceedings on behalf of a group (the class) whose members have suffered harm arising from the same facts or legal basis. The judgment binds all members of the class.
Purpose
Class actions provide access to justice where individual claims are too small to justify separate proceedings, promote efficiency by resolving common issues once, avoid inconsistent judgments, and deter mass wrongdoing by corporations or public authorities.
In Indonesia
Class actions are regulated by Supreme Court Regulation No. 1 of 2002 on Class Action Procedures, and are expressly recognised in the environmental, consumer protection and forestry laws. The court must first certify that the class action is appropriate: the class must be so numerous that joinder is impractical, there must be common facts and legal grounds, the representatives must be honest and serious in protecting the class, and the remedies claimed must be of the same type. Notice must then be given to class members, who may opt out.
Representative Organisations
Separately, qualifying non-governmental organisations may sue in the public interest in environmental and consumer matters (legal standing of organisations), usually seeking orders for particular action rather than damages.
In England and Wales
England has no general class action regime, but uses representative actions under CPR 19.8, group litigation orders, and an opt-out collective proceedings regime for competition claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, introduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.