die
Sammelklage
🏛️ What Exactly is a Sammelklage?
The term Sammelklage (noun, feminine) refers to a legal procedure where one person or an organization (e.g., a consumer protection association) sues on behalf of a large number of people who have similar claims against the same defendant. The goal is to bundle many individual claims efficiently into a single proceeding.
Often, distinctions are made between different forms, such as the Musterfeststellungsklage, which is more common in Germany. This type aims to establish the existence or non-existence of certain prerequisites for claims.
⚠️ Although often used synonymously, there are legal differences between a true 'class action' lawsuit based on the US model and German instruments like the Musterfeststellungsklage.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📝 Grammar and Declension of Sammelklage
The word „Sammelklage“ is a feminine noun. The article is die.
Declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Sammelklage |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Sammelklage |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Sammelklage |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Sammelklage |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sammelklagen |
| Genitive | der | Sammelklagen |
| Dative | den | Sammelklagen |
| Accusative | die | Sammelklagen |
Example Sentences:
- Die Verbraucherzentrale reichte eine Sammelklage gegen den Automobilhersteller ein.
(The consumer advice center filed a class action lawsuit against the car manufacturer.) - Im Rahmen der Sammelklage wurden tausende Betroffene vertreten.
(Thousands of affected people were represented within the scope of the class action lawsuit.) - Das Gericht prüft die Zulässigkeit der Sammelklage.
(The court is examining the admissibility of the class action lawsuit.)
💡 How and When to Use „Sammelklage“?
The term „Sammelklage“ is primarily used in a legal and economic context. It often appears in news and discussions about consumer rights, product liability, or capital market disputes.
- Typical Use Cases: Cases involving many victims due to defective products, unfair business practices, environmental damage, or false capital market information.
- Context: It aims to simplify legal enforcement for many individuals and relieve the burden on courts.
- Distinction: In Germany, the Musterfeststellungsklage is an important form of collective redress, often referred to as the 'German class action', but it has its own specific rules. A Verbandsklage is brought by specific authorized associations.
Using the term implies a conflict between a large group and an (often larger) company or institution.
🧠 Mnemonics for Sammelklage
Article Mnemonic: Klage (lawsuit) sounds a bit like 'clog' (imagine a clog in the legal system). A big clog needs a strong female figure to clear it: die Klage. Therefore, it's die Sammelklage (the collection of clogs/claims).
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of 'sammeln' as 'assembling'. Many people are assembling their Klagen (complaints/lawsuits) into one big case: the Sammelklage.
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Related Terms
Similar Terms (Synonyms/Related):
- Gruppenklage: (Group lawsuit) Often used synonymously.
- Musterfeststellungsklage: (Model declaratory action) A specific German type of collective action to establish facts or legal questions.
- Verbandsklage: (Association lawsuit) Lawsuit brought by specific approved associations (e.g., consumer protection) in the interest of their members or the public.
- Kollektivklage: (Collective lawsuit) General term for lawsuits brought in the interest of a group.
Opposites (Antonyms):
- Einzelklage: (Individual lawsuit) A lawsuit brought by a single person or entity to enforce their own rights.
- Individualklage: (Individual lawsuit) Synonym for Einzelklage.
🚨 Caution: These terms are not always perfectly interchangeable legally, especially when comparing with US 'class actions'.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Richter den Anwalt: „Ist das eine Sammelklage?“
Antwortet der Anwalt: „Ja, Herr Richter. Wir sammeln gerade noch Kläger – haben Sie vielleicht auch das fehlerhafte Toaster-Modell gekauft?“
Translation:
The judge asks the lawyer: "Is this a class action lawsuit?"
The lawyer replies: "Yes, Your Honor. We're still collecting plaintiffs – perhaps you bought the faulty toaster model too?"
📜 A Poem about the Lawsuit
Ein Produkt mit Tücken,
viele Kunden will's nicht glücken.
Statt allein zu streiten,
Kraft gebündelt, Wogen reiten.
Die Sammelklage, stark und laut,
auf Recht und Fairness aufgebaut.
Ein Ruf nach Ausgleich, klar und rein,
so soll Gerechtigkeit sein.
Translation:
A product with flaws,
Many customers it doesn't please.
Instead of fighting all alone,
Strength combined, riding the waves shown.
The class action, strong and loud,
Built on justice and fairness proud.
A call for balance, clear and pure,
Thus shall justice endure.
❓ Riddle Me This
Ich bündle Stimmen, klein und groß,
gegen einen Riesen, gnadenlos.
Nicht einer klagt, nein, viele an der Zahl,
im Gerichtssaal, das ist meine Wahl.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I bundle voices, small and large,
Against a giant, taking charge.
Not one complains, but many in the count,
In the courtroom, that's my fount.
What am I?
Solution
Die Sammelklage (The class action lawsuit)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word „Sammelklage“ is a compound noun, formed from:
- sammeln: (verb) to collect, gather, assemble
- die Klage: (noun) the lawsuit, complaint, action
So, it literally means a 'collected lawsuit'.
Trivia: The concept of class action lawsuits is relatively new in Germany and was significantly spurred by major scandals like the diesel emissions scandal ('Dieselskandal'). The introduction of the Musterfeststellungsklage in 2018 was an important step in this direction.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sammelklage?
The noun „Sammelklage“ is feminine. The correct article is die. So, you say „die Sammelklage“ (nominative/accusative singular), „der Sammelklage“ (genitive/dative singular), and „die Sammelklagen“ (plural).