Rule 1704 Form of the Complaint

When someone files a class action lawsuit in Pennsylvania, the complaint (the document that starts the lawsuit) must be set up in a specific way. The words "Class Action" must appear at the top of the document in the caption, which is the section that names the parties and the court.

The complaint must also have a separate section with the heading "Class Action Allegations." This section needs to spell out the specific facts that show why the case qualifies as a class action. These facts must match the legal requirements found in other rules that govern class action cases.

The person filing the lawsuit can ask for different types of relief in the same complaint. This means they can seek court orders, legal declarations, and money all in one document, as long as everything stems from the same basic events or circumstances.