Class action lawsuit. What should I do?
I received a ten page document from Alltel Claims Administrator about a class action law suit which has been settled and is pending approval of a judge. It appears I am a member of the class.
"Defendant (Alltel) denies the Class Plaintiff's factual and legal allegations and believes he is incorrect. In the Lawsuit, Defendant has denied all of the Plaintiff's allegations and has raised a number of defenses to the claims asserted. This Notice does not imply that there has been any finding of any violation of the law by Alltel or that recovery could be had in any amount. Although the Court has authorized Notice to be given of the proposed Settlement, this Notice does not express the opinion of the Court on the merits of the claims or defenses asserted by either side in the Lawsuit."
The long and the short of it is Alltel is saying "We didn't do it and we won't do it again." "We didn't take the money and we will give it back."
I can accept the settlement and that's the end of it, or I can opt out of the settlement and get my own lawyer. The settlement offers me seventeen free minutes of cell phone time to be used in one month OR a voucher for up to $5.50 on any phone accessory OR a long distance phone card good for fifty-five minutes valid for one year after activation.
The decision I have to make is should I accept the seventeen minutes or hire my own lawyer and go for eighteen?
"Defendant (Alltel) denies the Class Plaintiff's factual and legal allegations and believes he is incorrect. In the Lawsuit, Defendant has denied all of the Plaintiff's allegations and has raised a number of defenses to the claims asserted. This Notice does not imply that there has been any finding of any violation of the law by Alltel or that recovery could be had in any amount. Although the Court has authorized Notice to be given of the proposed Settlement, this Notice does not express the opinion of the Court on the merits of the claims or defenses asserted by either side in the Lawsuit."
The long and the short of it is Alltel is saying "We didn't do it and we won't do it again." "We didn't take the money and we will give it back."
I can accept the settlement and that's the end of it, or I can opt out of the settlement and get my own lawyer. The settlement offers me seventeen free minutes of cell phone time to be used in one month OR a voucher for up to $5.50 on any phone accessory OR a long distance phone card good for fifty-five minutes valid for one year after activation.
The decision I have to make is should I accept the seventeen minutes or hire my own lawyer and go for eighteen?
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Nothing [:)][}:)] 0 -
What the heck James, you only get fifteen minutes of fame, so you're already two minutes better off than that.[;)][:)] 0 -
Hire 2 lawyers. You'll always need one more to keep the other in check. 0 -
Take the long distance card and send it to someone serving over sees so he/she can make a call or two home. Probably worth more than 17 minutes on your next bill or $5.50... 0 -
how many millions are you going to win?
none?
just 17 or 18 lousy cell phone minutes?
and you want to spend how many thousands on a lawyer to win you minutes?
what part of stop acting like an old retired f-art officer dont you understand?[:o)][:I][?]
youre still my buddy, though.[:D]
oh, and trash that cell and go back to dial up hard line wire phones, the way im still using![^]0 -
quote:Originally posted by iwannausername
Take the long distance card and send it to someone serving over sees so he/she can make a call or two home. Probably worth more than 17 minutes on your next bill or $5.50...
Actually that ain't a half bad idea. All three options are worthless to me anyway. The point of the post was poking a little fun at the legal system. I don't know how much it cost Alltel to print and mail this ten page document, but I expect it was more than $5.50. Some lawyer somewhere made a bundle. [:D]0 -
whew! you had me going, mr!!! ooo-we! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
whew! you had me going, mr!!! ooo-we!
Your post gave me a good laugh. [:D]0 -
Send it to Travis Nunn.
Pete0 -
Even if you win 20 minutes after intense litigation and testimony, the lawyer will take 6 of them for his fee, leaving you only 14. Take the 17 and celebrate your victory! 
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Yeah I was going to say that the lawyers got $100/ person and you get the $5.50 after all their fees. [V][V][V]
John Grisham writes some really good books about stuff like that. I am not sure how much is true and what is fiction but it makes you think.0 -
How did you get in a "class" action suit? [:D]
Be sure and report this to the Feds on you tax return.0 -
Class action suits are filed primarily for the benefit of lawyers, who collect big bucks for "representing" a particular class of plaintiffs who, in turn, receive coupons good for a dollar off their next large pizza...... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by hicap47
Class action suits are filed primarily for the benefit of lawyers, who collect big bucks for "representing" a particular class of plaintiffs who, in turn, receive coupons good for a dollar off their next large pizza......
Minus 3 slices for the lawyer [:(!]0 -
Check with the first lawyer you encounter and ask them what you should do. I believe that, after charging you about $500.00 for even responding to your question, that lawyer will strongly advise you to hire him/her at $250.00 per hour to sue and get you that extra 1 minute you rightly deserve.
I have somehow been party to several such class actions lawsuits I knew nothing about until I received notice of the settlement/court decision. One very strong thing I haave noticed in such cases is that the attornys get millions while me and the other plaintiffs get pennies.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Check with the first lawyer you encounter and ask them what you should do. I believe that, after charging you about $500.00 for even responding to your question, that lawyer will strongly advise you to hire him/her at $250.00 per hour to sue and get you that extra 1 minute you rightly deserve.
I have somehow been party to several such class actions lawsuits I knew nothing about until I received notice of the settlement/court decision. One very strong thing I haave noticed in such cases is that the attornys get millions while me and the other plaintiffs get pennies.
It's like hicap47 said, the lawyers get the big bucks and we get the coupons. [:D]0 -
That makes me laugh. About 20 years ago I had an adjustable rate mortgage with citibank and somehow they screwed up on calculating the yield on 6 month Treasuries, which is what the adjustable was pegged against. I came home one day and found what I thought was the new phone book sitting on the front porch. Cripes - this thing weighed ten pounds or more - all about the class action suit.
Bottom line...several years later my end of the settlement was around 60 cents. Some where in the fine print it said that amounts less than $1 would not be paid out. [xx(]0
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