Class proceedings involve separate stages. The classes consists of a number of individuals whose claims share some issues but which have many individual issues. Common issues are those which affect all class members in the same way, individual issues (eg how much has the person lost for a particular benefit) are relevant to individuals only. The class action splits issues into common issues and individual issues. Normally, the common issues are resolved first, as the resolution of these issues benefit all class members. Once the common issues are resolved, if no settlement is achieved, class counsel will advance claims on behalf of each individual class member, as part of the class action, but fees will still be covered by the contingency fee so that claimants pay no fees unless recovery occurs.
