On June 1, 2017 new provisions on class actions will come into
force in Poland. The incoming law should result in a major increase
locally of this type of litigation.
The new set of rules will primarily affect entities which
provide products and services to individuals or small businesses on
a large scale. These include in particular: financial institutions
(banks, insurance companies, etc.), IT service providers, product
manufacturers (food, cars, electronics, etc.) and others.
IN THE PAST
Class actions were introduced into Polish law in 2010. However,
the governing rules and procedures presented many challenges: the
proceedings lasted too long, were easily obstructed, and were
grossly ineffective. Furthermore, only a few types of claims could
be subject to a class action.
