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What makes a class-action lawsuit more meaningful?

radcen

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What makes a class-action lawsuit more meaningful? More of a hammer, so to speak.

Honest question. Class action suits seem to be the ultimate goal or strategy for plaintiffs against large corporations accused of negligence, wrongdoing, etc., on a large scale.

But, based on only casual observation, it seems the plaintiffs rare get anything other than a token award while their attorneys make out like bandits. Seems because there are so many plaintiffs that any award after legal fees is watered down too much.

Occasionally, I will read of people who decline to join a class action suit and file their own individual suit. I would think that'd be a better way to go, though on the downside you would have less access to experts and research because it's all on your dime solely, and most people simply cannot afford that.
 
it's a gamble either way IMO & then in some cases a class action may be the only avenue towards compensation

I see class actions as a softer touch; a private attorney IMO will fight harder

my mother opted out of the so called 'global settlement' for breast implants which she had implanted in the mid 1970s post radical mastectomy

Breast Implant Chronology | Breast Implants On Trial | FRONTLINE | PBS

the surgeon in Houston that removed her implants, which she had retained at time of explant for approximately 15 years, stated that her implants were the worst he had ever seen

oncologist that treated my mother for over tens years theorized that her B cell lymphoma was a result of massive silicon poisoning

my mother utilized a firm in Houston (Laminack & O'Quinn) for her suit; they are mentioned at least twice in the article ..........
 
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Filing your own suit generally takes time and money that not everyone has.
 
What makes a class-action lawsuit more meaningful? More of a hammer, so to speak.

Honest question. Class action suits seem to be the ultimate goal or strategy for plaintiffs against large corporations accused of negligence, wrongdoing, etc., on a large scale.

But, based on only casual observation, it seems the plaintiffs rare get anything other than a token award while their attorneys make out like bandits. Seems because there are so many plaintiffs that any award after legal fees is watered down too much.

Occasionally, I will read of people who decline to join a class action suit and file their own individual suit. I would think that'd be a better way to go, though on the downside you would have less access to experts and research because it's all on your dime solely, and most people simply cannot afford that.

I see a major advantage to class action in the way they make it extremely expensive for offending companies, while the method makes it more difficult for politicians or law enforcement people to turn a blind eye in a system of corruption and/or conflicting interests. This makes it less worthwhile to do bad things.
 
The theory is that by sharing the plaintiff's legal fees that their cost, per plaintiff award, will be less. In reality that does not often happen because those "contingency" legal fees are normally expressed as a fixed percentage of the actual award but often contain a floor (the award must at least meet documented legal expenses before any distribution to the client) which could be a plus by adding more parties to the suit.

The real advantage seems to be the ability to present more instances of the harm caused to the plaintiffs and thus reducing the ability of the defense to discredit as many of the plaintiff's claims or to call the very limited examples presented "mere flukes".
 
The theory is that by sharing the plaintiff's legal fees that their cost, per plaintiff award, will be less. In reality that does not often happen because those "contingency" legal fees are normally expressed as a fixed percentage of the actual award but often contain a floor (the award must at least meet documented legal expenses before any distribution to the client) which could be a plus by adding more parties to the suit.

The real advantage seems to be the ability to present more instances of the harm caused to the plaintiffs and thus reducing the ability of the defense to discredit as many of the plaintiff's claims or to call the very limited examples presented "mere flukes".




In my mom's case she followed the class action situation for several years until which time it was put forth to interested parties they would have to make a choice; either opt in, or opt out.

The latest figure$ that were parlayed to my mom immediately before she opted out ended up being considerably le$$ compensation than what she eventually received via having a private law group represent her case; she also received a settlement quicker than if she would have opted in.

Of course, the law firm representing the client gets their cut right off the top, which is typically a substantial % % %

I still believe opting in, or out of a class action is a gamble; IMO there really are no guarantees either way ........
 
What makes a class-action lawsuit more meaningful? More of a hammer, so to speak.

Honest question. Class action suits seem to be the ultimate goal or strategy for plaintiffs against large corporations accused of negligence, wrongdoing, etc., on a large scale.

But, based on only casual observation, it seems the plaintiffs rare get anything other than a token award while their attorneys make out like bandits. Seems because there are so many plaintiffs that any award after legal fees is watered down too much.

Occasionally, I will read of people who decline to join a class action suit and file their own individual suit. I would think that'd be a better way to go, though on the downside you would have less access to experts and research because it's all on your dime solely, and most people simply cannot afford that.




Bing. I was in one once. Got $35 because the plumbing in my house was whack from the get-go.... needed 3k in work.


File individually or don't bother.
 
What makes a class-action lawsuit more meaningful? More of a hammer, so to speak.

Honest question. Class action suits seem to be the ultimate goal or strategy for plaintiffs against large corporations accused of negligence, wrongdoing, etc., on a large scale.

But, based on only casual observation, it seems the plaintiffs rare get anything other than a token award while their attorneys make out like bandits. Seems because there are so many plaintiffs that any award after legal fees is watered down too much.

Occasionally, I will read of people who decline to join a class action suit and file their own individual suit. I would think that'd be a better way to go, though on the downside you would have less access to experts and research because it's all on your dime solely, and most people simply cannot afford that.

Class action lawsuits are a racket. If the congress weren't full of lawyers we could probably ban them.
 
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