What's behind the surge in mass claims?
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Mass claims are increasingly common in the Netherlands. Branda Katan, Professor by special appointment in Corporate Law, spoke to news website NU.nl about the chances of their success: ‘A lot of time and money goes into these cases.’
This year companies such as Booking.com, Visa, Mastercard, as well as six large power suppliers, were the recipients of a mass claim. This is a legal procedure in which a large group of people or companies jointly file a claim through an interest group. The aim is that the company will be ordered to pay collective damages. This can be advantageous for the individual, as the cost for one person is often too expensive.
‘A lot of time and money goes into these cases. So, the court needs to be sure that there is a genuine interest in bringing the claim’, says Katan. Even after the court has ruled, people can still join the mass claim. Of course, that doesn't really put much pressure on those hoping to get compensation. They might think – I won't take action just yet, I’ll wait instead for the court’s decision.' Dutch legislation on mass claims is still relatively new and many cases are therefore still at the preliminary stage in proceedings. That makes it difficult to estimate the chances of success.
More information?
Read the full NU.nl article (in Dutch)