Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are some of the common questions we receive regarding TopClassActions.com. If you have any other questions, please email us at
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for assistance. Q: What’s an Open or Pending Settlement? A: This is when defendants in the class action lawsuit have made an agreement with the plaintiffs in the case and the court and are looking for those people who may be impacted by the settlement (those who purchased the product or service.) When a class action lawsuit is in the Pending Settlement phase affected customers can file their claim during the registration period. Once that registration period is over you can no longer file a claim and get your part of the settlement. That’s why it’s important to sign up for our email list and check back at Top Class Actions often or you may risk missing a BIG settlement. Don’t let something like the McGee v Ross Stores Settlement pass you by. Q: What’s it cost to join a Class Action Lawsuit or Class Action Lawsuit Settlement? A: Typically there are no costs to join a class action lawsuit or a class action lawsuit settlement. The attorneys don't get paid unless they win or settlement. Their payment typically comes out of the settlement fund.
Q: Is the information I submit to Top Class Actions or the Settlement Administrator websites confidential? A: All information submitted to Top Class Actions is kept confidential and will only be viewed by Top Class Actions Staff or attorneys in the Top Class Actions Attorney Network . It's not sold, leased or otherwise shared with any outside parties (even our Partners) unless specifically noted in the article or area you submit your information. You will always be notified PRIOR to submitting any information that would be shared with an entity outside of Top Class Actions LLC. At this time the only outside entity that has access to your email address is the vendor managing our email distribution (YMLP.com.) They aren't allowed to sell, lease, rent or in any way distribute your email address to anyone other than Top Class Actions LLC. If you submit a complaint via the complaint form or one of the requested settlements attorneys in our network will have the ability to see your personal data and you may be contacted for additional information or for assistance in filing your case. Q: What’s a Key/Named/Lead Plaintiff in a class action lawsuit? A: Check out the Requested Settlements Section and Submit your Complaint to express your interest in becoming a Lead Plaintiff in a class action lawsuit. Named or lead plaintiffs in class action lawsuits typically receive an award once the case settles (or you win) which is usually unique from the award given to the rest of the class. In re Mego Financial Corp. Securities Litigation, the court affirmed the trial court’s award of an incentive award to the class representatives. 213 F.3d 454, 463 (9th Cir. 2000). “The criteria courts may consider in determining whether to make an incentive award include: 1) the risk to the class representative in commencing suit, both financial and otherwise 2) the notoriety and personal difficulties encountered by the class representative 3) the amount of time and effort spent by the class representative 4) the duration of the litigation 5) the personal benefit (or lack thereof) enjoyed by the class representative as a result of the litigation.” Van Vranken v. Atlantic Richfield Co., 901 F.Supp. 294, 299 (N.D.Cal. 1995). Q: Do you REALLY need all of the requesting information for the mailing list? A: We're not asking for much, just your location, so we hope you'll provide it. It's not required. The reason we ask is that the more information we have, the more targeted we can be in selecting lawsuits which help our viewers. In addition, we'll have the ability to send you specific information for your area. For example, there was a recent class action settlement in Michigan regarding litigation against a local utility company. We want to make sure those notifications are only going to those affected, and not everyone. Q: Who's this Settlement Administrator and why do I need to go to their website? A: Settlement Administrators are those who have been chosen by the courts to monitor the settlement process, accept claims, and pay them out after the acceptance period ends and the settlement closes. Typically, their websites include a form so you can submit your claim electronically. They're vital to the class action lawsuit settlement claim process. Links to the Settlement Administrator websites are included on almost all of the individual class actions settlement pages. Top Class Actions is NOT a Settlement Administrator. We have no access to your claim and can't give you any updates about your individual claim. We typically post an update once we receive word that checks are going out. Check out McGee v Ross Stores for an example. Q: Can you tell me about (insert random class action lawsuit settlement here)? I don't see it on your site.
A: We can only discuss the class action lawsuit settlements listed on our site. If you're asking about an old or closed class action lawsuit settlement which isn't listed we may not be able to offer assistance. If you're looking to take part in or start a new lawsuit please fill out our Complaint Form so the attorneys in our network can review it and contact you if they deem your complaint actionable. If you know about an open class action lawsuit settlement which isn't listed on our site please email it to us. We'll review it and post it if we feel it's a "Top Class Action." Q: I want to participate in a class action lawsuit settlement but it's not open anymore. How can I make a claim in a closed settlement? A: Unfortunately once a class action lawsuit settlement closes it's extremely unlikely for the case to be filed again. A similar case may be filed but new criteria must be in place. Please make sure to join our newsletter list so you won't miss out next time. Q: When will I get PAID?!?! A: The key word to remember when making a claim on a class action settlement is PATIENCE. Once you make your claim, you still have to wait for the settlement period to end. Once the settlement closes, the judge reviews the case and approves it for payment processing. After that point (typically 3 - 6 months after the settlement closes) all of the claims submitted are formally reviewed by the claims administrator for validity. Once THAT'S done, the payments start going out. The entire process typically takes 1 - 2 years. Often Class Action Lawsuit Settlements are challenged by attorneys looking to change the terms of the settlement agreement or include themselves in it. When they are that delays payment as payments can't go out until the challenges are resolved. We encourage you to join our mailing list (below) and keep submitting claims. ©2008-2009 Top Class Actions® LLC |
