When you receive an email or mail notice inviting you to join a class-action lawsuit, or notifying you that you’ve been automatically included, it might give you pause. Is it worth the small reward — usually under $20 — to…
It might have happened to you a few times in past years: You received an email or mail notice inviting you to join a class-action lawsuit, or notifying you that you've been automatically included. But being part of such a lawsuit might be intimidating, especially if you need to opt in, and would mean surrendering the option to sue individually.
People are also reading… But in cases where you suffered significant harm, suing individually could secure a bigger payout. In most cases, Abney says, plaintiffs of class-action lawsuits pay legal fees on contingency, which means they don't pay anything unless they win the case. Lawyers taking on these lawsuits will usually receive payment as a percentage of the settlement won from the company.
Even though the class representative is the case's headline,"That person isn't necessarily going to get any kind of windfall," says Jennifer A. Riley, a partner at Duane Morris and vice chair of the firm's workplace class-action group. She notes that some courts in some jurisdictions would be able to grant a service award to plaintiffs representing the case, which are often between $2,500 and $7,500 , but other courts have found these awards inappropriate.
"If you have your own lawsuit, the value of your claim might be much, much higher as an individual than it would have been as a class member," says Gerald L. Maatman Jr., a partner at Duane Morris and the chair of the law firm's workplace class-action group."You're trying to decide, 'If I opt out, am I going to do that much better than I'd do in a class action?' And in certain circumstances, an individual would do better.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tours catch the magic behind the scenes at Monsoon ChocolateGet behind the rope by going on a tour of the factory at Tucson favorite Monsoon Chocolate. Tickets cost $20 per person.
Read more »
TRACK & FIELD: Alyssa Jones strikes gold, Smithson Valley girls win UIL Class 5A State team titleSmithson Valley sophomore Alyssa Jones left her mark in Austin, striking gold in the 200-meter dash and contributing to a pair of state-champion relays, as the Ranger girls claimed the UIL Class 5A State Track & Field title.
Read more »
JPMorgan opposes class-action status for Epstein accusersJPMorgan Chase & Co on Friday asked a federal judge to deny class-action status to more than 100 women who said the bank helped enable the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse them.
Read more »
Opinion | What Joe Biden needs to say to Howard’s Class of 2023Opinion by Colbert I. King: The university is no stranger to U.S. presidents on graduation day. President Biden needs to talk candidly to the Class of 2023 about what comes next for them and the country. It won’t be easy.
Read more »
Fort Bend Marshall boys repeat as Class 5A state track and field championsThe Buffalos, coached by Lloyd Banks, have won six state championships since 2015.
Read more »