Government’s Response On Proposed US-Style Collective Actions: A Class Act?

Would-be corporate defendants and their insurers have had cause for concern in recent times that the UK could see the introduction of US-style class actions. However, the Government's recent response on the issue offers comfort that wholesale revamping in this area is unlikely and instead that the desirability of collective action rights will be considered on a sector-by-sector basis. In December 2008, the Civil Justice Council (CJC), a body charged with advising the Government on the modernisation of the civil justice system, released its formal report on collective actions. In its report, the CJC stated that existing mechanisms in the UK for collective actions do not provide sufficient or effective access to justice for a wide range of citizens and that meritorious claims which could be brought are not being pursued.