Class Action Lawsuits – A Project for the Czech Republic

On Wednesday, September 20 Meridian International Center welcomed three visitors from the Czech Republic for a ten-day long International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to examine Class Action Law in the United States. Made up of representatives from the Czech Ministry of Justice, the group participated in the program to examine consumer protections and ways to hold businesses accountable through class action lawsuits. During the project, participants analyzed best practices and rules for notifying mass audiences affected by class actions; assessed the effectiveness and pitfalls of class action legislation; and explored the legislative judicial foundations of class action law in the U.S. The participants began in Washington, DC before travelling to Denver, CO and Chicago, IL.

While in Washington, the group had the opportunity to tour the U.S. Supreme Court Building and gain an insider's perspective on the institution's role. The participants also met with the Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic at Georgetown University's Law Center; a Senior Judiciary Counsel at the Office of Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL);  with the American Association for Justice, and  with Public Justice, a non-profit organization that fights for consumer and victims' rights.