Category Archives: Lawsuits

Lawsuits

Another useless class-action lawsuit

I actually write quite a bit about classaction lawsuits. However, I don’t know how much sense this one makes, so here it is:

A U.S.-based national organization of Filipinos and Filipino Americans is preparing a $500M class suit against ABC Network in the United States in response to a slur against Philippine medical schools and Filipino medical professionals, aired in the premiere episode of the fourth season of “Desperate Housewives.”

Oh boy. Give me a break. Can we say overkill?

One Filipino lawyer said the class suit is needed to protect the reputation and credibility of Filipino doctors.

‚ÄúThe reputations of doctors are affected, their income is affected and this is a major damage inflicted not only on them but also the universities in the Philippines,” said lawyer Ted Laguatan.

So. A stupid joke on a silly show (that I don’t even watch) has damaged the reputation and credibility of Filipino doctors, who need to earn American degrees even if they have Filipino degrees anyway?

Right.

You can be part of a class action, too!

I getting sick of all these stupid notices of class-action lawsuit settlements. If they actually equaled some money, it might be all right. But since these offers tend to require you continue using Sprint or use another Carfax car report, what’s the point?

I got the Sprint class-action settlement notice last year. At first I was definitely going to do it, because I was so irritated with how they’d treated us. But the options of the settlement were so complicated — all these bloody subclasses — and basically the best you could get is “a series of eight equal (as nearly as practicable) quarterly invoice credits on future Sprint wireless bills to their existing account in the total amount of $19.00.” Blech.

Yesterday, I got a class-action settlement notice about Carfax. Remember how I bought a car? Of course you have to get a Carfax report. West vs. Carfax’s details are:

WHAT IS THIS CASE ABOUT?
Plaintiff claims that Carfax violated the consumer protection laws of all fifty states by not properly disclosing terms and conditions for, and limitations of, Carfax Vehicle History Reports.Carfax denies all of Plaintiff’s claims of wrongdoing.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS?
If you purchased a Carfax Vehicle History Report directly from Carfax at any time before October 27, 2006, you’re a Class Member for purposes of this settlement.

WHAT DO I GET IF I REMAIN IN THE SETTLEMENT?
Class Members who remain in the settlement can claim a Voucher good for $20.00 off a vehicle inspection by a designated third party within six months of final approval of the settlement, a Voucher good for two free Carfax Vehicle History Reports from Carfax within one year of final approval of the settlement, a Voucher for one free Carfax Vehicle History Report from Carfax within two years of final approval of the settlement, or a Voucher for 50% off an unlimited number of Carfax Vehicle History Reports (for personal, not commercial use) over 30 consecutive days within three years of final approval of the settlement. The Court will also order Carfax to make certain changes in its disclosures and contracting process with customers.

Now, since neither Trinity nor I plan on buying a third car anytime soon, nor exchanging any of our current cars for a new one, what the heck am I going to do with another vehicle inspection or a voucher for 50% off an unlimited number of Carfax Vehicle History Reports?

The one class-action settlement that actually seemed to do me any good was one against Coffee Bean that had to do with employee breaks. I actually got $20 out of that one.