When a corporation, government entity, manufacturer, or negligent organization harms a large number of people, those victims often face the same challenge: standing up to a powerful institution with vast legal resources. A single person filing a lawsuit may not have the financial ability to take on such an opponent — but a group of injured people, united under a class action, can demand the justice they deserve.
The Collins Law Firm is proud to represent Illinois individuals, families, and communities in high-stakes personal injury and environmental cases, including class actions involving toxic exposure, defective products, corporate negligence, and consumer fraud. With a strong moral commitment to protecting public safety, our attorneys help clients hold wrongdoers accountable and push for meaningful change.
If you believe a company or organization has harmed a group you belong to, let’s talk.
A class action is a legal case brought on behalf of a large group of people — called a “class” — who suffered similar injuries or damages from the same defendant. Instead of filing hundreds or thousands of separate lawsuits, the court allows one case to move forward on behalf of all affected individuals.
Class actions are commonly filed in situations involving:
The Collins Law Firm regularly works with communities harmed by toxic chemicals, contaminated drinking water, and industrial pollution — cases where class actions often serve as a path to justice.
Class actions exist because certain types of harm would be almost impossible to fight individually. For example:
In these cases, individual lawsuits may be too costly or inefficient. A class action allows victims to band together, pool resources, and hold wrongdoers accountable.
Any individual who has been harmed in the same way as others can file a class action. However, the person or small group who brings the case is called the class representative or “lead plaintiff.”
To qualify, the representative must:
The Collins Law Firm guides class representatives through every step, ensuring their interests align with the broader group of injured people.
Before a class action can move forward, the court must “certify” the class. Under Illinois law, certification requires meeting several conditions:
There must be enough affected individuals that filing separate lawsuits would be impractical. This may include:
The group must share common legal or factual issues, such as:
The claims of the class representative must be typical of the class. Their injuries should reflect the broader group’s experience.
The class must be represented by competent attorneys experienced in complex litigation. As a trial law firm known for environmental and personal injury litigation, The Collins Law Firm routinely meets this requirement.
A class action must be the best and most efficient way to resolve the dispute.
Illinois and federal courts recognize several forms of class actions:
Common in environmental and toxic tort cases where exposure affects entire neighborhoods.
Often involve deceptive practices, hidden fees, or defective products.
May include wage theft, unpaid overtime, or illegal company policies.
Large-scale injury cases involving hazardous materials, pharmaceuticals, or catastrophic events. These may proceed as combined lawsuits rather than a single class, but the structure is similar.
The Collins Law Firm frequently handles cases involving:
These cases often require complex scientific and medical evidence, and class actions offer a path for communities to pursue justice collectively.
Class actions follow a structured legal process:
Attorneys investigate the potential class action, review documents, interview witnesses, and consult scientific or financial experts. Once evidence supports a claim, the case is filed.
The court reviews whether the case meets the requirements described above. Certification is a critical stage — without it, the lawsuit may not proceed as a class action.
Both sides exchange evidence. This may include:
Many class actions resolve through settlement, especially when evidence strongly supports the class’s claims. Settlements require court approval to ensure fairness.
If no settlement is reached, the case goes to trial on behalf of the entire class.
If the class wins or settles, compensation is distributed among class members based on their damages. Courts oversee the process to ensure fairness and transparency.
Depending on the case, compensation may include:
Environmental contamination cases may also involve:
If your community has been harmed by toxic exposure, The Collins Law Firm is ready to help you pursue justice.
People often join class actions because they offer:
Victims pool resources to stand up to powerful corporations.
One lawsuit resolves thousands of claims.
All class members receive equal consideration and fair distribution of compensation.
Class action members typically pay no upfront fees, and legal costs are shared across the group.
Cases involving pollution, defective products, or corporate misconduct require top-tier experts and experienced trial lawyers.
Sometimes, filing an individual lawsuit offers better results — especially in cases involving:
The Collins Law Firm evaluates each client’s situation to determine whether a class action or an individual lawsuit will offer the strongest path to recovery.
Our attorneys bring decades of experience handling large-scale litigation involving personal injuries, corporate misconduct, and environmental contamination. We provide:
Whether your case involves groundwater contamination, toxic air emissions, defective products, or widespread consumer harm, our mission is the same: to fight for justice and protect Illinois communities.
From Naperville and Wheaton to Aurora, Lisle, West Chicago, and the broader Chicago metro area, Illinois communities have faced numerous threats from negligent corporations, industrial polluters, and unsafe products. When these harms affect large groups of people, class actions give communities a collective voice.
If negligence or environmental exposure has harmed you or your neighborhood, call The Collins Law Firm today for a free consultation — and let’s talk about how we can help you move forward.
