Class Action Attorneys in Belleville, IL
There are few areas of law more complex than class actions — and that's the appeal. The other side is stacked with talent and a lot of law that protects corporations. We like working for the consumer. That's why we do this work.
We call our class action cases “change-the-label” cases. The goal in filing these actions is to change the labels on consumer products — especially food, but also appliances, household products, and products purchased for children. The focus is always the same: modify the behavior of a manufacturer or large corporation so consumers can make an informed choice.
Everyone agrees there ought to be free choice. But choice is only free if it's informed. When a manufacturer misleads on a label, the consumer's choice is no longer free.
At Nelson & Nelson, our class action attorneys in Belleville, IL, represent plaintiffs across Illinois and Missouri. For more than 40 years, we've taken on complex cases against well-funded corporate defendants and won real, structural changes — not just settlements. If you have concerns about a product label, a business practice, or a service cost, contact our Belleville class action law firm today.
What We Take On
“Change-the-Label” Cases
When a label misleads, the consumer's choice isn't free. These are the kinds of cases we file to change that.
Mislabeled Food & Products
When a manufacturer's label misleads consumers about what's in the product, the choice is no longer informed. We bring cases that force the label to change.
Learn More →Home & Appliance Products
Defective appliances, misleading claims, and unsafe products used around the house — held to account on behalf of every household affected.
Learn More →Children's Products
Products purchased for children deserve the highest scrutiny. We pursue manufacturers who put kids at risk through false claims or unsafe design.
Learn More →Defective Products
Holding manufacturers accountable for defective or dangerous products that cause harm to consumers.
Learn More →What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action is a lawsuit filed by a large group of injured parties — collectively called a "class" — and treated as one plaintiff. A class representative stands in for the rest of the class through the litigation.
Class actions exist because some wrongs hit thousands of people in small ways. If a manufacturer misleads consumers by $25 or $50 at a time, no single person is going to sue — the cost of a lawsuit would dwarf the recovery. Without a class action, the company keeps profiting from the misleading conduct. By uniting everyone affected into one case, a class action makes it possible to hold the corporation accountable and force a change.
That structural change is the point. We don't just fight for a check — we fight to make the corporation behave differently going forward.
Free choice is only free if it's informed. When a manufacturer misleads on a label, the choice of the consumer is no longer informed. — Dave Nelson
Types of Class Action Lawsuits
Most of our class action work falls under what we call "change-the-label" cases — situations where a manufacturer's label or marketing misleads the public. Common examples include:
In one notable case, the corporation made false "all-natural" claims about its products. As part of the settlement, the company agreed to remove that claim from its label — exactly the kind of structural change we file these cases to achieve.
How Does the Class Action Process Work?
The class action process begins when a lawyer files a lawsuit on behalf of a group of citizens, known as the "class"
Not all members of the class take part in litigation. Instead, one individual, or sometimes a small group of representatives, stands in for the rest of the class.
Several requirements must be met to certify eligibility for a class action:
Numerosity
The class is so numerous that it would be impractical for all individual members to file separate lawsuits.
Commonality
Common factual and legal claims exist among the members of the class.
Typicality
The claims made are typical among the members of the class.
Skilled Representation
The class has adequate legal representation to protect its members' rights and interests.
In every class action lawsuit, the class representative (or class plaintiff), which is an individual or small group of individuals, will file the class action against the entity for themselves and on behalf of everyone affected. While only the class plaintiff or plaintiffs participate in the litigation and trial, any compensation awarded will benefit every member of the class, hopefully returning to them what has been lost.
A class action can be filed in a state court or a federal court. If the impact of the entity's negligent or reckless actions reaches far beyond state boundaries, then it is more likely that the action will end up in federal court. Once a class action is certified, the judge is responsible for defining the scope.
If ongoing harm to the class persists (e.g., if the corporation continues to cheat consumers), the plaintiff may ask the court to order the corporation to stop its wrongful actions, such as changing a misleading label. Often, cases settle, and the court will approve agreements in which the corporation promises to make changes in exchange for dismissing the lawsuit.
Proven Track Record
Class Action Case Results
Holding corporations accountable for consumers
Get Expert Guidance from Belleville Class Action Attorneys
Class actions are one of the most effective tools we have for holding large corporations accountable. The criteria to certify a class are specific, and these cases demand experienced representation against well-funded defendants.
At Nelson & Nelson, we'll assess your case and tell you honestly whether a class action is the right vehicle. We take this work because when we win, we win on behalf of hundreds or thousands of people — and we change the way a corporation behaves going forward.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our class action attorneys in Belleville, IL, or call us at (618) 277-5000.
Get Your Free Consultation“Seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
— Isaiah 1:17
Don't Let Corporations Get Away With It
If you believe you've been affected by corporate wrongdoing, deceptive practices, or defective products, our experienced class action attorneys can help. We fight on behalf of hundreds and thousands of people to ensure justice is served.
