Why were hundreds of consumers able to file a class action against an automotive company?

The reason hundreds of consumers were able to file a class action against the automotive company is because an order certified the consumers as a class. In class action lawsuits, one of the critical steps is obtaining class certification from the court, which allows the group of individuals with common claims to proceed collectively. This certification is essential as it ensures that the claims of the individual members are sufficiently similar and that the class action is the most efficient way to resolve their disputes.

The process of class certification typically involves meeting specific legal criteria, such as commonality (where there are common questions of law or fact), typicality (where claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of those of the class), and adequacy (where the representative parties will adequately protect the interests of the class). Once these requirements are met and the class is certified, the members can pursue their claims together in a single action, often against companies that may have caused harm through similar actions or practices.

The other options do not sufficiently capture the legal basis for the class action. Bankruptcy, individual harm, or a merger may influence the situation but do not inherently establish the grounds for the collective nature of a class action lawsuit. The essence of a class action lies in the ability of the court to