Ever get a random check from a class action lawsuit you didn't know you were involved in?

Take your family to McDonald's.

 

I also got a check from the eBay settlement the other day.. I got $0.32, though. I'm slightly richer than you in that regard.

 

I just got the foreign transaction fee one too, and mine was also for $18.04. I'm going to go wild and crazy with my money, and I'll do my best not to spend it all in one place. Really though, it'll just go into checking and probably pay the gas bill.

 

The class action was created so that entities could not get away with ripping many people off for small amounts of money (would you file suit for a overcharge of $3?). In this regard, it is good since it protects little people. However, class action also promotes litigation, something I know we're not fond off.

 

True, but as you implied, there's little alternative.

Right now, the American system of deregulation essentially sets up wrongs to be righted by the courts. There's no other efficient way to govern corporate dealings with the general public except when there's the potential for gross bodily injury.

 

No but when I was about 26 the gov sent me a check for $5000 that was a mistake. They demanded it back and I told them I never received it. They had me sign a paper and told me if I ever tried to cash it I'd be in trouble. I put it on a wall in my apartment. I'd never seen anything like that amount of money.

 

I didn't get a check, but I did get an e-mail informing me I will get $1.50 credit for each ticket I have purchased on the Ticketmaster website that can be applied towards my next purchase.

 

Well, yes and no. IIRC, for the Tort System, it costs something like $2.10 or so for every $1 repatriated to the "victim." In contrast, it's something like $0.45 for every $1 in workers comp.

If the FTC, CPSC and SEC had stronger regs and teeth, corporate dealings could be roped in better. For example, in a study on lead paint in toys, almost all toys had something like 3x the "safe" amount of lead in them. Now, because the legal system tends to use "private attorney generals," it's much more difficult to discourage such practices. (Even if there's a ton of lead in the toys, how are you going to prove damages? And the CPSC is pretty much underfunded.)

Anyway, I'm painting w/ a broad brush and quoting statistics that are very hazy to me. Although I'm generally opposed to over-regulation, you can see how certain systems are more efficient than others.

 

You lost me at "could be". Of course they could be. I'm talking about the way it is.

 

It's what we do.

 

put it all on red!

 

I was given notice that the state of California, LA has a class action against ticketmaster. May 29, 2012 final appproval hearing. It also says that there will be attorneys' fees of $16.5 million. Wow!

 

I got a check once for 11 cents from an ISP lawsuit. Can't remember which. I had it taped to my wall for a while, but ended up just throwing it away. I figure if the check is for less than the gas I have to use to cash it, it's worthless.

 

Of course. It's all the lawyer's fault. It's certainly not the asbestos industry KNOWING that they were making a dangerour, cancer-causing product. Or the paint industry KNOWING that lead was dangerous. Or the auto makers refusing to acknowledge that their cars were in accidents.

Sometimes a class is three million people. Sometimes it's three thousand. Sometimes it's 30. Because if you're living in a condo you bought new 2 years ago and have leaky roof, you and your neighbors all have a problem. An expensive one.

 

is there somewhere i can sign up to be a part of these things?

 

The lawyers are required to notify you if you're part of the class.