Spimbey Class Action Lawsuit (2024)

FAQs

Who gets paid the most in a class action lawsuit? ›

Contrary to popular belief, class action settlements are not divided among class members evenly. Lead plaintiffs receive the most money in class action lawsuits. They typically have the worst injuries and the highest damages.

At its peak, the Risperdal litigation had more than 7,000 cases pending in Philadelphia, making it one of the largest mass torts to come through the city's busy complex litigation center. And with a city jury returning a historic $8 billion award, it was also one of the most successful for plaintiffs.

You will receive a notice in the mail or email if you are an eligible class member. The notice will provide a detailed description of the lawsuit and all your available options. In most cases, eligible class members join the litigation automatically and do not have to take any action.

DuaneMorris said lawyers who filed motions to certify classes of plaintiffs succeeded more often than not. In 2023, courts granted 324 motions for certification out of 451 filed, a success rate of 72%. That was only a slight decrease from the plaintiff bar's 74% success rate in 2022.

People have mixed feelings about class-action suits, and whether you cash class-action refund checks is up to you. Generally, if you get one, you probably paid a lot more in wrongful fees than you're getting back in the settlement. If you don't cash the check, the money may go back to the company.

On behalf of Uvalde mass shooting victims and their families, the California-based law firm Bonner & Bonner is seeking $27 billion from a litany of governmental entities over the May 24 Robb Elementary School massacre that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

If you or a loved one took Risperdal as a treatment for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or another medical condition, and you have since suffered a major side effect like male breast growth, heart attack or diabetes, you may be entitled to a cash award settlement for your injuries and medical bills.

In October 2021, Johnson & Johnson settled thousands of lawsuits claiming Risperdal caused serious side effects, including gynecomastia. A 2019 Risperdal lawsuit ended in an $8 billion verdict against the company.

Tobacco Settlement at $206 Billion

The largest-ever class action settlement was agreed upon in 1998 by Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and two other tobacco companies. Paid out annually over 25 years, the settlement covered the medical costs for smoking-related injuries for individuals in 46 US states.

Considering joining a class action lawsuit? While it can empower you in seeking justice, be aware of potential drawbacks like legal uncertainties, loss of personal control, lower individual compensation, and the often lengthy legal proceedings.

Is money from a class action lawsuit taxable? ›

Oftentimes, the nature of a class action suit determines if the lawsuit settlement can be taxable. Lawsuit settlement proceeds are taxable in situations where the lawsuit is not involved with physical harm, discrimination of any kind, loss of income, or devaluation of an investment.

The administrator may refuse to pay compensation if it determines a claimant does not meet the qualifications of the class action settlement. “If you do nothing, you're going to receive nothing,” Keogh says of claim forms.

Is It Worth It to Join a Class Action Lawsuit? This depends on the facts of your individual case. You might benefit from becoming a lead plaintiff in a highly important case that causes policy changes in the future. Or, you might end up as one of many plaintiffs, contributing to the greater uniformity of the claim.

Class action settlements are not distributed equitably. The lead claimants often have the most significant injuries and damages and receive the most money.

Some class sizes can reach millions. While there is no exact number needed for a class action lawsuit, it is difficult to form a class to receive certification with less than 20 members. A class with at least a few dozen members is preferred and will likely be certified and move forward.

Lead plaintiffs sometimes receive a higher percentage of class settlements as part of their compensation package or as an 'incentive' award than other class members.

In a class action lawsuit, the court system treats the entire class of victims like a single plaintiff. This means the judge's decision on the case applies to the entire group. If the judge sides with the defendant and dismisses the case, no member of the class can pursue further legal action.

While the class representative might get extra compensation, it depends on various factors. The class representative might receive an incentive award that compensates her for serving as the lead plaintiff and working on behalf of the entire class; however, this does not happen in every case.