{"id":105984,"date":"2025-06-05T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T09:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=105984"},"modified":"2025-08-19T08:10:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:10:35","slug":"austria-class-actions","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/austria-class-actions\/","title":{"rendered":"Austria: Class Actions"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-105984","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-class-actions","jurisdictions-austria"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2024\/05\/BrandlTalos_logo_pantone-5743-U.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2024\/05\/BrandlTalos_logo_pantone-5743-U.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>","below_title":"<span class=\"guide-intro\">This country specific Q&amp;A provides an overview of Class Actions laws and regulations applicable in Austria<\/span><div class=\"guide-content\"><div class=\"filter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search questions and answers...\" class=\"filter-container__search-field\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<ol class=\"custom-counter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Does your jurisdiction have a class action or collective redress mechanism? If so, please describe the mechanism and outline the principal sources of law and regulation and its overarching impact on the conduct of class actions in your jurisdiction.<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In July 2024 Austria transposed the EU Directive on representative actions (Directive EU 2020\/1828, \u201c<strong>EU Directive<\/strong>\u201c) <em>via <\/em>the class-action- directive-implementation-amendment (<em>Verbandsklagen-Richtlinie-Umsetzungs-Novelle <\/em>\u201c<strong>VRUN\u201d). <\/strong>Among other things this &#8220;new&#8221; law provides for the following:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li>Class action lawsuits may be brought by any &#8220;Qualified Entity&#8221; according to the Qualified Entities Act (<em>Qualifizierte Einrichtungen Gesetz<\/em>, QEG). Qualified Entities are either directly recognized by law or may be recognized by the Federal Cartel Prosecutor after fulfilling certain criteria provided by the law itself. These criteria <em>inter alia<\/em> include a statutory purpose indicating a legitimate interest in the protection of consumer interests.<\/li>\n<li>The procedural provisions regarding class actions are included in Section 619 \u2013 635 of the Austrian Civil Procedure Code (<em>Zivilprozessordnung<\/em>, ZPO). A class action lawsuit may either seek injunctive relief (Section 619 \u2013 622 ZPO) or redress claims (Section 623 et seqq ZPO) on behalf of consumers in court. With the redress actions, collective payment claims, which must be based on essentially similar facts, can be asserted against the same company. The prerequisite is the participation of at least 50 consumers (Section 624 ZPO). Both options are only available for consumer claims and therefore not for those of corporations.<\/li>\n<li>Austrian law provides for an opt-in model. Consumers must expressly join a class action for redress (Section 628 ZPO). Withdrawing from a class action is not possible. By joining, the limitation period for the individual claim is suspended; this applies retroactively to the date on which the class action is brought.<\/li>\n<li>The Commercial Court of Vienna as a three-judge senate has exclusive jurisdiction for class actions according to Section 620 and 630 ZPO.<\/li>\n<li>Third-party financing of class actions is expressly permitted (Section 6 QEG). The design of the respective funding agreements is subject to the private autonomy of the contracting parties and thus not specifically regulated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While the VRUN provides for a new legal framework governing class actions, the old class actions measures are still of relevance. The old legal regime basically provided for three different relevant class action regimes in Austria:<\/p>\n<p>The first one is the so-called \u201cAustrian-style class action\u201d (<em>Sammelklage \u00f6sterreichischer Pr\u00e4gung<\/em>), in which individuals (not necessarily consumers) assign their claims (e.g., for compensation) to certain associations. Those associations subsequently bundle the claims and bring one lawsuit in their own name on behalf of the consumers.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, certain associations are entitled to bring a representative action (<em>Verbandsklage<\/em>), which is a claim for omission under the Austrian Consumer Protection Act (<em>Konsumentenschutzgesetz<\/em>, \u201c<strong>KSchG<\/strong>\u201c). Such associations can request injunctions against companies for using certain general terms and conditions or standard contracts in their course of business with consumers.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, third-party funded mass litigation is an increasingly common way of collective redress measures in Austria as the Austrian-style class action is not very practicable and involves certain procedural hurdles. The claims in third-party funded mass litigation are brought individually, and the litigation funders receive large portions of the claimed amount.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the history of the development of the class actions\/collective redress mechanism and its policy basis in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The Austrian civil procedure law initially did not include any form of class action mechanisms. However, in practice the model of the Austrian-style class action was developed and recognized by the courts, while the real class action mechanism according to the VRUN was only introduced as a result of an EU Directive.<\/p>\n<p>While there were certain endeavours in the past to implement an actual class action style lawsuit in Austrian legislation, these were never very fruitful, despite the concerns of particularly legal scholars and consumer protection representatives and organisations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the frequency of class actions brought in your jurisdiction, in terms of number of cases over the years and\/or comparison to other types of litigation?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no comprehensive statistics of the number of class actions lawsuits filed in Austria. However, the Association for Consumer Information (<em>Verein f\u00fcr Konsumenteninformationen<\/em>, VKI), the most prominent entity for bringing representative actions, published in its activity report that in 2022, the VKI conducted 263 proceedings, whereas 17 of those proceedings were Austrian-style class actions.<\/p>\n<p>Given the recent implementation of the VRUN, there are yet to be published any comprehensive statistics regarding the number of class actions under the new legislation. However, we expect the number of class actions to increase due to the new class action regime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there certain courts or types of claims that are most prevalent (for example competition vs commercial litigation generally)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The commercial court in Vienna has exclusive jurisdiction over class action lawsuits pursuant to the new legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the lack of statistics, a prevalent certain type class action under the new legislation is yet to be established. However, under the old legal situation the most active entities bringing class action suits were the VKI and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (<i>Arbeiterkammer,<\/i> AK). Typically, these actions seek either injunctive relief regarding unlawful terms and conditions used by companies or damages for product liability or misleading financial advice. Thus, also in those cases, the commercial courts were predominantly addressed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the definition of 'class action' or 'collective redress' relevant to your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There is no formal legislative definition of class action or collective redress. However, a collective redress action pursuant to Section 624 ZPO is a lawsuit of claims based on essentially similar facts for at least 50 consumers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the general 'triggers' for commencement of a class action or collective redress in your jurisdiction from a factual perspective?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The initiation of class actions or collective redress proceedings are often triggered by<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li>a specific event or discovery of an unlawful business practice which affects multiple consumers in a similar manner, and\/or<\/li>\n<li>a judgement of the Austrian Supreme Court declaring a certain business practice unlawful in an individual case (whereas this case must not necessarily be a model claim).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How do class actions or collective redress proceedings typically interact with regulatory enforcement findings? e.g. competition or financial regulators?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Often, class actions or third-party funded mass litigation follows findings by regulatory authorities concerning a company\u2019s misconduct (e.g., refund claims against the automotive industry). While competition or financial regulatory authorities monitor for non-compliant behaviour, the misuse of general terms and conditions is not of major interest for those authorities. Misconduct towards consumers is relevant with regard to general obligations of the company or credit institutions in question. Civil law proceedings however are to be separated from public and administrative law proceedings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What types of conduct and causes of action can be relied upon as the basis for a class action or collective redress mechanism?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Pursuant to the new legislative framework, a Qualified Entity may bring a class action:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li>for injunctive relief, if a company acts unlawfully and, thereby harms or threatens to harm the collective interests of consumers and<\/li>\n<li>for redress, where these illegal acts also result in claims of consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any limitations of types of claims that may be brought on a collective basis?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no limitations of types of claims to be brought on a collective basis. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Who may bring class action or collective redress proceeding? (e.g. qualified entities, consumers etc)<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Class action lawsuits may be brought by any &#8220;Qualified Entity&#8221;. Qualified Entities are either directly recognized by law or may be recognized by the Federal Cartel Prosecutor after fulfilling certain criteria provided by law itself. These criteria <i>inter alia<\/i> include a statutory purpose indicating a legitimate interest in the protection of consumer interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any limits on the nationality or domicile of claimants in class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Within the framework of the EU Directive on representative actions there is no distinction between domestic consumers and consumers form other EU member states. The only requirements are the general procedural prerequisites mainly regarding international jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<p>However, there is a distinction regarding Qualified Entities who may bring international and who may bring national class actions. Though, in practice this is of little relevance, particularly due to the requirements for recognition to bring national class actions being more difficult to achieve.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, Qualified Entities established in Austria may also be admitted to bring cross-border class actions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any limitations on size or type of class?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The prerequisite for a class action seeking redress is the participation of at least 50 consumers. There are no restrictions limiting to a maximum size.<\/p>\n<p>The claims of the individual consumers must be based on essentially similar facts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any requirements or prohibitions in sourcing this class?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Participants of the class action may only be consumers.<u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Which courts deal with class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The commercial court in Vienna has exclusive jurisdiction over class action lawsuits pursuant to the new legislation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any jurisdictional obstacles to class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Immediately after filing the class action, the court will assess if the requirements to bring the class action are met and, consequently, decide if the class action is permissible. This decision will be published to give other consumers the option to join the class action.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of cross-border claims, the Austrian class action regime does not provide for specific provisions on international jurisdiction. Thus, the general rules on international jurisdiction (e.g., the provisions included in the Brussels Regulation) apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Does your jurisdiction adopt an \u201copt in\u201d or \u201copt out\u201d mechanism?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Austria is an opt-in jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is required (i.e. procedural formalities) in order to start a class action or collective redress claim?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The Qualified Entity as claimant must be established as such and approved by the Federal Cartel Prosecutor.<\/p>\n<p>A class action for redress must be brought on behalf of at least 50 consumers with essentially similar claims. Consumers must pay an admission fee which may not exceed 20% of the individual claim but must not be more than EUR 250.<\/p>\n<p>The court may on its own or upon request assess the admissibility of the class action for redress and issue an order rejecting the claim or admitting it. Individual counterclaims may be suspended for the time being.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What other mandatory procedural requirements apply to these types of matters?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no other mandatory requirements specifically applicable for class actions. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are normal civil procedure rules applied to these proceedings or a special set of rules adopted for this purpose?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In general, class actions are governed by normal civil procedural rules. However, Section 619 \u2013 Section 635 ZPO include a new set of rules for class actions, such as:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li>The court, upon request of the winning party may publish the judgement at the expense of the losing party.<\/li>\n<li>The courts initial assessment of the class action and the publication of it&#8217;s decision to hold the proceedings is special to the class action claim under the new framework.<\/li>\n<li>Any settlement between the Qualified Entity and the defendant must be approved by the court.<\/li>\n<li>The limitation period for consumer claims is suspended during the proceedings for every consumer participating in the class action<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How long do these cases typically run for?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no comprehensive statistics for class action suits under the new legislative framework. However, under the old framework class action lawsuits particularly in the form of the Austrian-style class action may often take several years. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What remedies are available to claimants in class action or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Qualified Entities as claimants may bring the general legal remedies available under Austrian civil procedure law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are punitive or exemplary damages available for class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>No. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is a judge or multiple judges assigned to these cases?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>All class actions under the new framework shall be decided by a panel or &#8220;senate&#8221; of three judges. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are class actions or collective redress proceedings subject to juries?  If so, what is the role of juries?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>No. <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the measure of damages for class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The calculation of damages depends on the summarized actual damage each individual consumer participating in the class action has suffered including statutory default interest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is there any mechanism for the collective settlement of class actions or collective redress proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Settlements according to Section 631 ZPO must be confirmed by the court. The court may only confirm a settlement if the settlement does not conflict with mandatory provisions of national law and does not contain any conditions that are not enforceable. It remains to be seen whether, based on the wording of the law (\u2018may\u2019), there could also be other reasons why the court may refuse to confirm the settlement. The settlement concluded binds the consumers who have joined the proceedings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is there any judicial oversight for settlements of class actions or collective redress mechanisms?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes, the court must approve any settlement.<u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the top three emerging business risks that are the focus of class action or collective redress litigation?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The most common business risk to date is the use of unlawful general terms and conditions. In addition, incorrect advice on investment products or agreements regarding pricing (e.g. fees, commissions) are frequent reasons for representative actions. Furthermore, defective products or refunds following the violation of mandatory law are the most frequent reasons for class actions and mass litigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What trends in litigation are evident in the last three years in your jurisdiction in respect of class actions?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Despite the new legislative framework, the old Austrian-style class action remains in litigation practice. Third-party litigation funding has gained prominence in Austria, especially due to its permission, in principal, under the new legislative framework. Thus, class actions and mass litigation is growing throughout many different industries (e.g., gambling, automotive, energy, banking, etc).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Where do you foresee the most significant legal development in the next 12 months in respect of collective redress and class actions?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>While the impact of the new legislation remains to be seen, we expect it to have a substantial impact on Austrian litigation practice (i.e., growing numbers of class actions).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are class actions or collective redress proceedings being brought for \u2018ESG\u2019 matters? If so, how are those claims being framed?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Class actions on ESG matters are on the rise. In 2023, the VKI brought two representative actions against different companies regarding Greenwashing. The legal basis for those lawsuits was in both cases misleading advertising according to the Austrian Unfair Competition Act.<\/p>\n<p>Class actions may be brought for any unlawful behaviour or business practices, including ESG related matters. However, while injunctive claims can be brought seemingly easily (e.g. prohibition to market a product &#8220;CO2 neutral&#8221;), ESG related matters often do not give rise to individual consumer claims (e.g. claims against the automotive industry were based on damages). <u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any proposals for the reform of class actions or collective redress proceedings? If so, what are those proposals?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Due to recent implementation of a new legislative framework and the consequences yet to be seen, there are no current proposals regarding the class action framework.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<div class=\"word-count-hidden\" style=\"display:none;\">Estimated word count: <span class=\"word-count\">2669<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/twentyseventeen\/src\/jquery\/components\/filter-guides.js\" async><\/script><\/div>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/105984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}