RMIF to present case for group actions at OFT

The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) is to advocate the need for trade bodies to be able to undertake ‘Group Class Actions’ at an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) hearing in September.

The RMIF hopes that the rules will be changed so that duly authorized bodies such as trade associations will be able to act in their own name on behalf of their members.

At present, a named individual member of a UK trade body must instigate legal proceedings within a group action, albeit with the backing and support of other identified members, and of their trade association.

This would bring the UK into line with other countries, including Germany and the USA, and enable UK trade bodies to more vigorously represent the interests of their members

Alec Murray, RMIF non-executive chairman, will speak at the hearing on 24 September 2007.

He commented: ‘We will use the hearing to explain why trade bodies such as ours should be permitted to bring follow-on and stand-alone actions on behalf of their members.’