Creditors may argue that the bankruptcy is fraudulent, or they may seek to establish a higher claim to the bankruptcy estate. The group, or class, consolidates its arguments into a single lawsuit for resolution in court. Since most class members will not have their own lawyers, courts require special procedures to protect class members' interests. Complex Litigation Complex litigation results from unusual fact patterns, multiple parties, and novel legal theories. The litigation process for these complicated cases may stretch out over the course of years in order to address all the competing legal claims.
Class actions are one common type of complex litigation.
Federal Appellate Practice Federal appellate practice includes appeals from federal trial court rulings and secondary appeals from initial appellate decisions. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the various federal circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court hear federal-level appeals. These courts cannot reconsider the facts of the original case, but review the decisions in light of legal standards. The Federal Claims Court is a specialized court created by Congress to address lawsuits for financial compensation brought against the U.S. government by its citizens. The court can hear a wide variety of cases and has a reputation for fairness and objectivity.