In any proceedings brought pursuant to this chapter, to promote the fair and efficient operation of justice and having given due regard to the rights of affected persons, the severity of the threat to the public's health, and the availability of necessary witnesses and evidence, the court may order the consolidation of individual claims into group claims where:

(1) The number of individuals involved or to be affected is so large as to render individual participation impractical;

(2) There are questions of law or fact common to the individual claims or rights to be determined;

(3) The group claims or rights to be determined are typical of the affected persons' claims or rights; and

(4) The entire group will be adequately represented in the consolidation.