Recently, Wendy’s Restaurant and Bar began a class action lawsuit against the restaurant franchiser, alleging discrimination based on her sex. Class action lawsuits have been known to have a strong potential of being won and often quite handsomely. So what is going on here? Why are they singling out Wendy’s in this case?

Well, let’s put it this way. No matter how much people complain about corporate greed, it still doesn’t make any sense to invest money into a business that you know will be taken away from you via a lawsuit. If the restaurant company is willing to take my money without even providing a product worth it, then what good is investing your money in their company? At this point, anyone who is still supporting this particular restaurant should just take a hike off of their mountain of debt.

Class action lawsuits are exciting as they give a voice to those who may not have one. It is also frightening to those who are scared of litigation since it forces everyone to stand up and defend their rights. The plaintiff will be forced to explain why they feel they have been treated unfairly. It is hard for anyone in this situation to sit back and simply do nothing. There must be some other options available.

Recently, I had another case come up before me which involved a local franchiser. I’ll admit, I was very skeptical at first about the whole thing. Like most lawyers, I am quite busy and the case seemed to get lost in the ether. When the attorneys representing both sides presented their case, it was obvious the lawyer for the franchisor was the true expert on the subject and that of all the others, he knew far more about what needed to be shown and how.

Now, one may wonder how a class action lawsuit can actually work and how it differs from using a lawsuit or arbitration process. Well, it must be noted that there are many differences between these two methods of dealing with cases. For one, an arbitration proceeding is just that, it is a means to settle a case without going to trial. However, with class action lawsuits, the members of the lawsuit pool their resources and get together to sue the defendant/brand in the case. This is done in a class-action lawsuit and if the members of the lawsuit win the case and bring it to trial, a judgment will be made.

As you can see, a class action lawsuit has many advantages over other types of litigation. It is fast, it is inexpensive, it allows victims the ability to sue and receive settlements and most important, it allows injured people the opportunity to hold the companies or individuals responsible for their injuries. These lawsuits also provide victims with a voice. If you have been or are having an experience similar to the ones described above, I highly recommend you seek a consultation with an attorney experienced in litigating these types of cases. He or she will be able to provide you with much needed advice and guidance on how best to proceed with your particular lawsuit.