I got a letter for a class action lawsuit being filed against a product I bought. Am I going to get paid if this lawsuit wins?

Question: I just got a letter in the mail about this MP3 player that I bought, asking me to join the class action because the battery was defective.  Can you tell me exactly how this would work, if I wanted to join the class, and whether I would get compensated and what I would get or not?

Response: Generally, if you were a member of a class that was harmed- i.e. you were one of many consumers that purchased a defective product and incurred a similar defect- then you are eligible to join the class action. You can join the class by signing the forms sent to you, certifying that you purchased the MP3 player that was defective, thus making you a member of the “class” or group of people that was harmed. By joining the class action, you give up any rights to sue the company individually to obtain damages. You will be bound by the judgment and settlement that the attorneys and/or judge decide is appropriate for the class members. Often, when a large class brings a suit for a defective product, the settlement may consist of a coupon for a free product, some type of discount or company-specific reimbursement, or a small amount of cash. The specific settlement and award(s) to each member of the class varies depending on the nature of the product defect and the specific settlement reached.

Answered by Christy Rakoczy

Additional Resource: Class Actions

isclaimer: This site does not provide legal advice and users of this site should not interpret any of the information presented here as legal advice. The information provided merely conveys general information related to commonly asked legal questions. We are not a law firm and the employees responding to questions are not acting as your legal attorney. You should ultimately consult with a Lawyer for your case.