What are Wyoming Small Claims Cases and Class Action Lawsuits?

Wyoming makes provisions to allow individuals, organizations, or any other entity to demand reparations for any injury suffered due to the actions or inaction up to $6,000. The circuit court has jurisdiction over small claims cases, and cases from this court can be appealed to the district court.

Under Rule 23 of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, a class action is a collective lawsuit in which a group of people seek justice simultaneously. Persons who have been affected by tax deductions, employment actions, and environmental hazards, among other things, can file small claims and actions in Wyoming.

Records of Wyoming public records may also be accessible from some third-party websites. Aggregate sites are a convenient alternative for inquirers interested in searching for multiple records across several US districts. To search these databases, however, users are typically expected to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are operated independently of government sources. Consequently, the availability, accuracy, and/or validity of some records may not be guaranteed.

What Cases are Heard by Small Claims Courts in Wyoming?

The circuit court in Wyoming hears small claim cases such as:

• Monetary Disputes: These types of cases usually involve unpaid debts or breach of contract.
• Property Disputes: Involves trespassing on someone’s property or causing damage to another person’s property.
• Landlord and Tenant Disputes: Issues over rent or other deposits are sorted in the small claims court.
• Employment Action: Employees who have been maltreated in terms of payment or other areas can sue the employer in the small claims court for compensation.

What is a Class Action Lawsuit in Wyoming?

A class-action lawsuit is a litigation effort by many individuals against a defendant to seek redress for similar injuries, following Rule 23 of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. It involves a group of people who all claim to have suffered a similar injury, and the damage is too small for each claim to be worthwhile.

How do I File a Claim in a Wyoming Small Claims Court?

Parties who wish to file for small claims may need to complete the Small Claims Affidavit and send it to the circuit court clerk. The form may include the defendant’s full address, the nature of the claim, the amount due in damages or recovery, and a statement that a demand for payment has been made and refused. The court typically charges a filing fee of $10.00 as well. After the affidavit has been filed, the court then serves a summons to the defendant and orders a court appearance. 

Do I Need a Small Claims Lawyer?

There is no requirement by law that dictates that either side must employ an attorney during a small claims case. The person, partnership, or corporation involved in the dispute can choose to represent themselves throughout the entire process. Nevertheless, an attorney works to provide legal counsel during the process, and both parties are eligible to obtain an attorney as legal representation during the process. If one party engages an attorney's services during the process, the other party is eligible to file a continuance to obtain an attorney for themselves if one was not previously present.

How do Class Action Lawsuits Work in Wyoming?

A process to start a class-action lawsuit begins when a person appointed as the lead plaintiff for a group of plaintiffs files a complaint in the district court. The complaint contains relevant information to the lawsuit such as the name of the plaintiff, the class of the individuals who will be covered by the lawsuit, the name of the defendant, the name of the court along with its jurisdiction, the class action allegations which details the claims of the plaintiff against the defendant and the demand of the plaintiff for reparation for the claims made. After filing the petition, the court will serve a copy to the defendant, who is expected to respond. The answer to the complaint contains a list of the plaintiff’s allegations and the defendant’s response to each, along with a request to the court for relief from the consequences of the lawsuit.

Following Rule 23 of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, the court must certify a class-action lawsuit to proceed. After receiving both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s statements, the court may decide whether to certify the class action based on the validity of the claims. 

If the court certifies the plaintiff’s claim, it then issues a Brief of Certification, which usually allows the plaintiff's motion to move forward. This is the start of a class-action lawsuit. Following certification, a process called discovery ensues in which the plaintiff's attorneys can request documents from the defendant.

The documents obtained may be used to prove the allegations against the defendant. After this, a trial or a settlement on the part of the defendant may follow. The court then notifies the members involved in the class-action lawsuit of the settlement of the case and the eligible compensation. A class-action lawsuit is a complicated legal matter and, as such, can take a long time to resolve. Depending on the magnitude of the suit, a class-action lawsuit can last between nine months and over two years.

Is a Class Action Better Than a Single Party Suit?

A class-action lawsuit is not inherently better than a single-person suit, but it is the most viable option when similar claims for injury from large numbers of people exist. A class-action lawsuit allows for the disposal of all the individual claims at once. A class-action case is usually the preferred method of legal redress, as a single-person suit might be impractical due to the minor nature of the claim.