Consumer Fraud
What is a class action suit?
A class action lawsuit is one filed by one or more people on behalf of a larger group of people who are facing the same issues. Class action lawsuits bring together a large number of individualized claims into one representational lawsuit so that each person with the same complaint or injury doesn’t have to file a separate lawsuit. There are several advantages to a class action suit. First, it increases the efficiency of the legal process so that the same witnesses, issues and exhibits only have to be presented during one trial instead of many separate trials for each wronged individual. Second, it ensures that the defendant who has wronged many individuals compensates all individuals involved for their injuries – even if that compensation is minimal for each person, they must pay a lump sum to cover everyone, not simply the person who filed suit.What types of cases can be brought as class action suits?
Here are a few types of cases we handle:
Healthcare Fraud Healthcare fraud can include billing errors for medically unnecessary procedures, switching illness codes, or inflating physicians’ fees. It can also include instances where pharmaceutical companies inflate or misreport the best drug prices for State Medicaid Programs. Financial and Stock Fraud Stock fraud occurs when a broker manipulates clients into trading stocks without regard for the client’s interest. Some examples may include deliberately misleading the client about the stock’s facts, recommending stocks outside the client’s risk tolerance, or failing to diversify a client’s portfolio to protect a client’s assets. Financial fraud can include unexplained bank charges or even identity theft. Whistleblowing Whistleblowers are generally employees, former employees or members of an organization who report business misconduct and have evidence that a company is violating the law and is, therefore, a direct threat to public interest.
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Consumer Protection
Class actions are often brought against corporations, such as telephone companies and credit card banks, when they overcharge or otherwise mistreat many customers in the same way.
Products Liability/ Personal Injury
Defective products and personal injury class action lawsuits are usually filed when a defective product harms many people. Some examples of defective products are a drug with harmful side effects or an unsafe toy that harms small children.
False Advertising
False advertising occurs when a company deliberately misrepresents themselves in an advertisement. Some examples include: bait and switch – when the company advertises products or services at low prices but then offers a higher price in store; false price comparison – when advertisers falsely inflate regular prices and then compare them to sale prices to deceive consumers into believing they are getting a bargain; or misrepresentations such as when advertisers overstate the quality, characteristics, uses or origin of a product.
How does a case become a class action?
An individual or group of individuals talks with an attorney about their potential case. If the lawyer believes they have a strong case, he or she will file suit on behalf of the individuals. The lawyer will then file a motion asking the court to formally recognize the case as a class action. If the court grants that motion, others who may also have been wronged will be notified and asked to participate as a member of the “class.”
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How many people are needed for a class action?
A single person is usually enough to file a lawsuit as long as the attorney believes that a significant number of others were also injured or wronged in a similar way.
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What are the attorney’s fees?
If we accept your case, there are no out of pocket fees or costs to you. We are reimbursed a small percentage of the amount we recover for you – so if you don’t get paid, neither do we.
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How do I get started?
Please fill out the Free Case Evaluation form on the top right side of this page and we will respond within 24 hours.
If you wish to speak with someone immediately, call our client-intake specialist, Ken Cooper, at (856) 308-5426.