A class action is a type of civil lawsuit brought on behalf of many similarly situated people who have been harmed in the same way by the same entity; because they do not have the resources individually to sue the responsible party, they band together in a single case. Class action litigators are trial attorneys who usually work on a contingency basis, which means that they will receive a portion of the award if the lawsuit is successful, but will charge their clients no fees if it fails. Common issues in class action litigation include illegal hiring or salary practices, dangerous or defective drugs or products (such as motor vehicles, machinery, toys, and electronics), environmental or health concerns, and financial fraud.