Legal Definitions - private-attorney-general doctrine

The private-attorney-general doctrine is a legal principle that allows a person who brings a lawsuit that benefits a large number of people, requires private enforcement, and is important to society as a whole to recover attorney's fees.

For example, if a company is polluting a river and a citizen files a lawsuit to stop the pollution, the private-attorney-general doctrine may apply if the lawsuit benefits the community as a whole and requires private enforcement. In this case, the citizen who filed the lawsuit may be able to recover their attorney's fees.

Another example is a lawsuit against a company that is discriminating against a large group of people. If the lawsuit is successful and benefits the entire group, the person who filed the lawsuit may be able to recover their attorney's fees under the private-attorney-general doctrine.

The private-attorney-general doctrine is important because it encourages individuals to bring lawsuits that benefit society as a whole, even if they do not directly benefit from the outcome of the lawsuit. It also helps to ensure that important issues are addressed and that justice is served.