Opinion article by Mariana Soares David and Filipa Castanheira de Almeida: The backstage of class actions

Mariana Soares David and Filipa Castanheira de Almeida, litigation lawyers at Morais Leitão, have recently published an opinion article entitled "The backstage of class actions", in the november/december issue of Advocatus.

In recent times, class actions have become increasingly important in the day-to-day life of the legal system and the media.

The right to take class action has been enshrined in Article 52(3) of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic since 1976, and has been regulated by law since 1995, through Law 83/95 of August 31st. Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been a substantial increase in highly complex and media-oriented popular actions, culminating in million-dollar compensation claims, allegedly on behalf of certain diffuse or collective interests.

[Access article, only in Portuguese]