Class Action Lawsuits
Class action lawsuits were designed to be the “little guy's” best shot at justice by allowing individuals with similar grievances to band together to file a single claim. Class actions have had some positive results over the years for consumers. They have forced product recalls or stopped discriminatory behavior. In general, however, class actions have become some of the most blatant examples of lawsuit abuse. Personal injury lawyers pursue claims hoping to score big legal fees (as much as 50 percent) for themselves. While they score millions, the plaintiffs receive little in the way of award (sometimes mere pennies). Many plaintiffs do not even know they are part of a class action lawsuit. Reforms passed in Texas have limited attorneys' fees in class action cases and prohibited giving coupons to plaintiffs as awards unless that's how the lawyers also are paid. Even with these state regulations, changes are still needed on the federal level.		NEWS As BP Suits Take Off, a Hard Look at the ‘MDL’ Process Sep 13, 2010 | Wall Street Journal Law Blog The BP Report: An Exercise in Rebutting Gross Negligence Claims? Sep 09, 2010 | Wall Street Journal Law Blog Google Pays 8.5 Million to Settle Class Action Lawsuit Sep 04, 2010 | Providing News Class Action Lawsuit Threatens Facebook's Billion Dollar Ad Business Aug 27, 2010 | Business Insider JOEY KENNEDY: The lawyers always get theirs, and the people, well, the lawyers always get theirs Aug 18, 2010 | The Birmingham News Class-action waste Aug 15, 2010 | GoUpstate.com Lanier says plaintiff's bar faces battle royal over oil spill suits, fears BP bankruptcy Aug 13, 2010 | APNewsBreak: Alabama sues BP over Gulf oil spill Aug 12, 2010 | The Associated Press David Freddoso: When legal sharks attack ... each other Aug 11, 2010 | Washington Examiner Thousands sign on for $10 billion BP suit Aug 06, 2010 | HOUSTON CHRONICLE