Of remedies, access to justice, the enforcement of private law and judicial efficiency: the need for a damages claims grouping procedure in all Australian jurisdictions

Of remedies, access to justice, the enforcement of private law and judicial efficiency: the need for a damages claims grouping procedure in all Australian jurisdictions

The class action procedure plays an essential role in protecting the rights of numerous persons with claims involving common questions of fact or law or both. It facilitates the determination of the rights of many similarly situated individuals in a single proceeding. In so doing, it significantly lowers the cost of litigation. This has the potential to assist individuals who, because of the cost of legal services, would not be able to take action individually to vindicate the violation of their rights, to do so. Further, by enabling individuals to engage in litigation, it serves to promote greater enforcement of private law. As well, to the extent it facilitates the resolution by the courts of the claims of numerous persons who share a common legal position in one lawsuit, it achieves economies of time, effort and expense. This serves to promote judicial efficiency. It also assists to achieve uniformity of adjudication. Clearly, these are matters of significant public importance. Unfortunately, this procedure is, presently, not available in all Australian jurisdictions to several similarly situated persons seeking the remedy of damages. In light of the important role that the class action procedure can play in promoting the interests of numerous individuals with common claims for damages and society in general, it is highly desirable that all Australian jurisdictions reform their laws to introduce an improved claims grouping procedure. This paper explores ways in which the law can be reformed achieve this objective.

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