EFFECTIVE CONSUMER ACCESS TO JUSTICE - CLASS-ACTIONS

Consumer protection legislation recognizes consumer rights, but in man y cases consumers do not institute judicial proceedings in order to as sert their rights, particularly for small injuries. Class actions are seen as having the potential to overcome some of the hurdles that bar consumers from effective access to courts to seek redress to their gri evances. Class action proceedings are not simple and the enactment of such a measure requires modifications to be made to the judicial proce ss. The author in discussing the efficiency of the measure outlines th e major adjustments to be made and the different solutions developed i n the majority of states that have enacted such a procedure.