Actually making money with a class action suit

I have a perfect class action suit idea. I'm part of the class, along with many thousands of others. Thing is, my losses are like $50 - it's thousands of people all getting hit for small amounts of money, perfect case for a class action.

I'm worried that, if I present the case idea to a firm, I'll end up getting shafted - either not being included in the representative class (forget the proper term), or getting a meager sum in the settlement. Generally, it's the law firm that makes all the real money in a class suit, but I want to make sure I'm guaranteed a percent. I'm not looking to make a huge amount, like 50,000-200,000, which probably won't be a tenth of what the firm will get in settlement (I wouldn't even mind taking ~$30,000 if it was a quick settlement)

Does anyone know anything about how to proceed? Is there a generally accepted amount the original defendant receives?

First, I must ask is this a just class action suit or is this something frivolous?

id never sue someone, regardless of the situation, 50$surely doesnt sound like its worth all that time because you want to be greedy.

I laughed at the title because unless you're a lawyer I don't see how a participant actually makes any money. If you were a lawyer you wouldn't be here asking.

kinetic said:

Unless you're a lawyer, I don't see how a participant actually makes any money

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They generally don't, unless it's something like prescription-related wrongful death - thats why I made this thread, because I'm not giving away a sweet case so some law firm can make 5 million and send me $50.

The case isn't bullshit at all - it's actually so blatantly wrong that you wonder how the company itself hasn't realized it's error.

And your an idiot if you say you'd never sue anyone for any reason - if you owed 100k in medical bills and had your face sewn back together because some guy let his pitbulls run loose, I bet you'd decide the 200k of free money was worth an hour on the phone with his homeowners.

nah, my brother owes 400k in medical bills and he never sued, your just a greedy fuck who got taken advantage of. i got 9k from a truck accident when i was 3 and i hated having that cash, every second of it. takin money from somebody regardless is being greedy.

Silicity said:

nah, my brother owes 400k in medical bills and he never sued, your just a greedy fuck who got taken advantage of. i got 9k from a truck accident when i was 3 and i hated having that cash, every second of it. takin money from somebody regardless is being greedy.

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i was in an accident w an ex gf and she ended up suing my insurance agency.. not sure if she sued them or they just came after her willing to give her free cash.. either way she took it, not nearly what she could have received imo, but still i was like wtf?? even worse i didn't find out about it till she received the dough, which only added insult to injury imo..

its all a guilt thing and it feels like a shitty way to gain an upper hand, id prefer to work hard and earn my money then taking a route where more people are gonna end up hurt by it.

Silicity said:

its all a guilt thing and it feels like a shitty way to gain an upper hand, id prefer to work hard and earn my money then taking a route where more people are gonna end up hurt by it.

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oh,young man.Let me let you in on a secret.The american dream is long gone.You will just make the rich richer and you'll be lucky to make less over time.I'm not sue happy but earning money(hourly) is no way to make a living

Ringsixty said:

First, I must ask is this a just class action suit or is this something frivolous?

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Sounds like some frivolous pipe dream idea to work people over. -Rep for that guy.

you lost $50 and want $30,000 in return?

and they wonder what is wrong with the world these days.

when you make more than you need and are satisified by it, it is the way to live, i dont work a minimum wage job like most and id like to think its because im not gonna back down from shit regardless of work, gotten me far already.

fdd2blk said:

you lost $50 and want $30,000 in return?

and they wonder what is wrong with the world these days.

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Any worse than the law firm not loosing anything and getting several million?

And if it wasn't for these lawsuits, companies would pull even more bullshit than they do right now, because no one is going to put in the effort to sue for $20 or $30. PNC got hit a while back because they were charging fees incorrectly. The lawsuits everyone says are frivolous are also the heart of consumer protection in America.

Not trying to start an ethical debate - I want to know how I can personally profit from a very bad business practice. This might be the only good class action law suit I ever get in my life.

tibberous said:

Any worse than the law firm not loosing anything and getting several million?

And if it wasn't for these lawsuits, companies would pull even more bullshit than they do right now, because no one is going to put in the effort to sue for $20 or $30. PNC got hit a while back because they were charging fees incorrectly. The lawsuits everyone says are frivolous are also the heart of consumer protection in America.

Not trying to start an ethical debate - I want to know how I can personally profit from a very bad business practice. This might be the only good class action law suit I ever get in my life.

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Seriously dude.

tibberous said:

I have a perfect class action suit idea. I'm part of the class, along with many thousands of others. Thing is, my losses are like $50 - it's thousands of people all getting hit for small amounts of money, perfect case for a class action.

I'm worried that, if I present the case idea to a firm, I'll end up getting shafted - either not being included in the representative class (forget the proper term), or getting a meager sum in the settlement. Generally, it's the law firm that makes all the real money in a class suit, but I want to make sure I'm guaranteed a percent. I'm not looking to make a huge amount, like 50,000-200,000, which probably won't be a tenth of what the firm will get in settlement (I wouldn't even mind taking ~$30,000 if it was a quick settlement)

Does anyone know anything about how to proceed? Is there a generally accepted amount the original defendant receives?

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Being involved in a lawsuit is brutal. I went through it last year. Its so hard, emotionally, that it starts to hurt physically. The whole thing sucks, and even if you win, you still lose. I won mine, but didn't get what I wanted, not even close, and you won't either. There are many things worth suing over, but I'd suggest to anyone to seriously rethink it.

I must have typed in www.lawyeritup.org or something???

Nope, roll it up toke n talk... well... at least this forum is in the right section.

This reminds me last week of when someone I had not talked to in about 6 months call me up and tell me a great business idea. "lets build zepplins to fly rigs around in remote locations. we could be bigger than BP and conocophillips if we pulled it off!!!"

I'm like.. seriously... you're gonna waste my time with this shit???

Same thing. Class action suit for 50 bucks for thousands... You're better off opening a collection agency.

Sorry if I come across as a dick, I have some stuff going on in my personal life that has my ass chapped. No offense intended, I didn't take the time that I normally would to re-read my post to see if anyone might be offended by it. Just trying to be straight up with you is all.

tibberous said:

I want to know how I can personally profit from a very bad business practice. This might be the only good class action law suit I ever get in my life.

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So you come to RIU you to find out? I see millions in your future....

kinetic said:

So you come to RIU you to find out? I see millions in your future....

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Yeah, wasn't real helpful. I know people who've made a lot in vehicle / homeowners claims, but class action isn't real common.

I was kind of hoping there was a way to just settle with the company without getting a law firm. Problem is, laywers on both sides have an incentive to not settle - who cares if it saves there client a few dollars, settling it after it's filed increases their billables. I just can't see a way to do that, because even if they paid me to not file suit against them, there would still be thousands who could.

If you want to have power you have to have "The power", if youre not a lawer your not in power.
If you want to go around and fuck people over you have to be a lawer if not you'll get shot or arrested..

My brother was involved in a head on collision with his old best friend; they were hit head on by a lexus ls300 that was going around 45mph(my brothers friend was going the same speed) Anyways, she winded up with a broken shoulder and serious concussion and my brother winded up with permanently damaged cartilage in his left knee, which he has pain everyday.

Anyways, my brothers physician and orthopedic specialist said the pain will always be there and there's nothing you can do for damaged cartilage, so he decided to contact my uncles lawyer from Marks & Harrison(lawyer had gotten my uncle over $1,500,000 when he got hit by a tractor trailer on his motorcycle, which my uncle had died for over 7 minutes and suffered thirteen broken bones.) Back to my brothers situation; so, he contacted him and the lawyer has put a law suit against my brothers best friend, her insurance company and the man who hit them insurance company.

My brother has regret everyday about pushing that lawsuit... He tried to drop it, but it was too late. If they don't settle by March 13th 2013 he'll have to appear in court with all his doctors, insurance companies, his best friend and the gentleman who hit them..

Not really sure why I decided to share this... Guess I'm just high and bored.