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It's not that class action has a "bad" reputation, just that in the US, it has a 'meaningless' reputation. The punishment is generally so absurdly minor, and th
by maxsilver 6y ago
It's not that class action has a "bad" reputation, just that in the US, it has a 'meaningless' reputation. The punishment is generally so absurdly minor, and the time frame so long, that it feels like it's not even a slap on the wrist for the offender.
The popular perception of class action in the US, is something like, "yes, Kitchenpal knowingly sold thousands of Blenders that sparked out and caught fire, and burned like 50 people's houses down. But luckily your class-action lawsuit came through 10 years later with a check worth $3.22 as compensation"
- egypturnash 6y ago"...and multiple millions of dollars to the lawyers who got you this victory"
- Hnrobert42 6y agoWell, the lawyers usually work on contingency. If they don’t win, they worked for 10 years for free. So, the percentage of victory is compensation for their risk and fronting the money to work for a decade. Further, as the parent post points out, the compensation to the individual is low. Even if the lawyers made nothing, what does the plaintiff care? $3 or $6? What does it matter? But the point isn’t compensating the plaintiff. The point is punishing the defendants and creating some kind of deterrent.
- Hnrobert42 6y agoThe point of class action is not to make the plaintiffs while with a check for $3.22. The point is punishing the defendants and creating some kind of deterrent. Yes, such lawsuits take too long and inflict too little pain on defendants, but sadly they are all we’ve got.