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Class Action Lawsuits: Millions for Lawyers, Nothing for Consumers, Ruin for Businesses
The New American ^ | March 26, 2015 | Gregory A. Hession, J.D.

Posted on 03/27/2015 8:53:05 AM PDT by detective

Manufacturers of consumer goods in the United States have a lot to fear from the government, and becoming the target of a class action lawsuit is right up there in the first tier of those concerns. An astounding 52 percent of major corporations are engaged in class action litigation right now. Federal judges have complete discretion about whether to certify a class action lawsuit, and then whether to approve large attorney fee requests. Once certified as a federal class action, an otherwise small lawsuit turns into a massive cash drain for the target company and a money machine for the lawyers.

The real goal of many of these lawsuits is to extract a large attorney fee for the law firm bringing the case. The class of alleged consumer victims — their clients — is often a secondary concern, and is usually left with relatively little financial benefit, sometimes merely a few cents.

(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: classaction; classactionlawsuits; lawsuits
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1 posted on 03/27/2015 8:53:05 AM PDT by detective
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To: detective
John Grisham's book The King of Torts is a very enlightening book on this subject.
2 posted on 03/27/2015 8:54:18 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (I've been to the 15th broken moon of the Medusa Cascade & the diamond coral reefs of Kataa Flo Ko.)
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To: detective

Class action lawsuits are nothing but money for lawyers. I “participated” in one and I think I received some discount coupons for my trouble.


3 posted on 03/27/2015 8:55:27 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (True followers of Christ emulate Christ. True followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed.)
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To: detective

I have received letters in the past informing me that I will be part of a class action law suit. But never received any checks! I guess the lawyers fees gobbled it all up.


4 posted on 03/27/2015 8:55:40 AM PDT by entropy12 (Real function of economists is to make astrologers look respectable.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I know an attorney who’s making millions off such lawsuits.


5 posted on 03/27/2015 8:56:10 AM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
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To: detective
I disagree with this. Class action lawsuits have one benefit for businesses. Once it is settled, then no more claims of those who (allegedly) suffered the harm can join the class and file a claim.

While they are big bucks, they prevent death from 1000 cuts from hundreds of individual cases regarding the same claim. Better the class action, then 25000 individual court cases.

6 posted on 03/27/2015 8:56:15 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (Mike Pence in 2016)
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To: detective

I would be okay if there was a percentage limit on the money awarded that would go to the lawyers vs. the victims / wronged parties.

As well as a “Cap” for the lawyers and loser pays if the class action fails due tot he lawyers being ambulance chasers.


7 posted on 03/27/2015 8:57:02 AM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: detective

BINGO.


8 posted on 03/27/2015 8:59:14 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: entropy12

Same here. Six months ago there was one action — involved headlamps, I think Sylvania. Website had form to fill out for a $10 check. NEVER CAME.
Lawyers gobble up the $$$ and consumers get zip.


9 posted on 03/27/2015 9:01:03 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: All
Here's another facet of that scummy con game---class action suits subsidizing Obama's dream of a "permanent Democratic majority."

The Largest, Best Funded Voter Fraud Operation in US History Happening Before Your Eyes
Red Statements ^ | 3/12/2015 | Steven Ahle / FR Posted by HomerBohn

Within the first couple of months of Obama’s illegal immigration executive memos he signed on AF One, at least ninety thousand Social Security cards were issued to illegal aliens. Now Senators Ben Sasse and Jeff Sessions want answers on how many additional social security cards were issued. The answer is important because it will allow citizens to know just how much money taxpayers are spending on illegal aliens.

Social Security cards are keys of the kingdom to illegal aliens. With them, they are able to access a number of all sorts of benefits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Social Security disability payments or Social Security’s supplemental income program.

The senators also want to know how much in benefits these illegals have collected. The senators have yet to connect the dots in Obama’s real scheme. Let me help them out.

Social Security cards besides making illegals eligible for benefits, can have a more profound problem for the United States. The cards make it very easy for illegals to register to vote, even in states with voter ID laws.

One of the documents accepted for registering to vote is………….Social Security cards. But administration officials don’t dare instruct the illegals on how to vote and many might not trust them. The Washinton Times explains how easy it would be to add millions of new voters through the democrat’s illegal amnesty.

So how do you get around this? Simple. You have the latino-centric America hating La Raza do it. Yes, La Raza actually teaches illegal immigrants where and how to register and vote. With the advent of so many illegals being able to vote and limited resources, La Raza couldn’t possibly handle the volume or afford to spend the kind of money necessary to facilitate such a huge undertaking.

NOTE WELl: Obama and congressional democrats along with a huge assist from Eric Holder may shed some light on this, too. What if we add the former ACORN into the mix? No, they aren’t defunct, they just use the democratic playbook, which calls for changing the name of ACORN to NeighborWorks America. That may answer the manpower problem to a large extent, but what about the massive amount of money that would be needed?

Both NeighborWorks America and La Raza have found a huge funding source. The DOJ has sued several banks and made settlements in which the banks have paid 24 billion in fines. One of the banks, CitiCorp was also ordered to pay $50 million to La Raza and NeighborWorks America as part of the settlement.

But wait, it doesn’t stop there. Another clause in the agreement makes it possible for La Raza and NeighborWorks America to rake in even larger amounts of money.

Of the remaining money the banks needed to pay in settlements, the banks were able to contribute additional money to La Raza and NeighborWorks America. For every dollar they contribute, it reduces their debt to the government by 2 dollars. That’s some mighty powerful incentive to give generously.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling have questioned why this money was sent to the two organizations rather than to the alleged victims of the bank’s crime. The administration of course declined to answer.

--SNIP--

So now, with Social Security cards, manpower and tons of money to go along with the two years before the next presidential election, the largest and most successful voter fraud campaign may alter the course of the elections not to mention the future of the United States.

10 posted on 03/27/2015 9:01:19 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Darren McCarty

I smell a shill.


11 posted on 03/27/2015 9:01:48 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: detective

The car crash biz is trending down due to less miles driven and safer cars.

So the tort lobby is quickly branching out into SocSec disability and class action lawsuits.

Our local tv is loaded with adverts trolling medical malpractice, pharmaceutical effects, asbestos, etc.


12 posted on 03/27/2015 9:05:07 AM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I recently received about $50 from a class suit against Visa, I paid off the balance and literally burned that damned card years ago.


13 posted on 03/27/2015 9:07:11 AM PDT by Impala64ssa (You call me an islamophobe like it's a bad thing.)
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To: George from New England

20 years ago, things were better. I owned some electric utility company stocks, and there was a class action law suit claiming the utility did not do proper declaration of facts or something. And I did receive a settlement check.

Now the system is out of control. We need serious legal system reforms, especially about frivolous law suits.
The plaintiff should be required to pay legal costs of defendant if court rules in favor of defendant. That kind of system exists in many countries, which minimizes frivolous law suits.


14 posted on 03/27/2015 9:07:36 AM PDT by entropy12 (Real function of economists is to make astrologers look respectable.)
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To: entropy12

Since tort lawyers are a major funding source for Democrats (along with unions and Big Education) they are pretty well connected.


15 posted on 03/27/2015 9:08:58 AM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Yep, ditto.

Years ago, was some class action against Apple. I received a $25 coupon for a discount on some future purchase of equipment (couldn’t be used in iTunes). The attorneys got tens of millions.


16 posted on 03/27/2015 9:13:35 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: nascarnation

And to what do you attribute the fact that we are all driving safer cars now?

I’m not saying it’s all due to lawyers or class actions in particular, but they have had their intended effect.


17 posted on 03/27/2015 9:15:23 AM PDT by Benito Cereno
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To: detective

It’s not only the private lawyers. The Federal Government wins breathtaking judgements against businesses. Since these lawsuits are ostensibly brought on behalf of the people, and since the Government lawyers are paid by the taxpayers and don’t get a contingency fee, shouldn’t the money be RETURNED to the people? Why does the Government get to keep the money?


18 posted on 03/27/2015 9:20:23 AM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Benito Cereno

“And to what do you attribute the fact that we are all driving safer cars now?

I’m not saying it’s all due to lawyers or class actions in particular, but they have had their intended effect.”

The most unsafe cars were the result of CAFE regulations in the 1970s. Cheap, light cars satisfied the mileage requirements.

The improvements in quality and safety were due almost entirely to the higher quality imports of the late 1970’s and 1980s. American cars were poor quality. Auto companies were worried about anti-trust legislation and UAW threats.

It was only in the 1980s that US cars began to be better built and more safe.

Improvements in technology and competition from foreign cars forced US car makers to keep improving.

Lawsuits had very little to do with it.


19 posted on 03/27/2015 9:24:25 AM PDT by detective
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To: Benito Cereno

We’re driving safer cars because of technology. Many things have prompted it, but is all comes down to better stuff.


20 posted on 03/27/2015 9:28:59 AM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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