A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit in which a large group of people come together to file a claim in a court of law. This type of lawsuit originated in the United States and it is most commonly seen in U.S. law, rather than in other countries. These cases are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures Rule 23. It is a lawsuit that is brought to federal court and therefore it falls under federal laws. While some cases may be handled in lower courts, any case with a monetary value of $5 million or more is generally held in federal court. It is also often handled in court if any of the plaintiffs in the case live in a state other than the defendant or a foreign state.