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What Should I Do After Receiving a Class Action Lawsuit Notification?

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
man opening a letter in front of his computerIf you received a notification of a class action lawsuit, you may be wondering what steps to take next. The most important thing to do first is to thoroughly review the notification. It may be in your best interest to review the document with a licensed attorney. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to go over the letter with you to determine what legal course of action may best suit your situation. We offer a free legal consultation, and there are no upfront fees for our services. If you were denied overtime or other wages you are owed, our Sacramento wage and hour lawyers are ready to help you seek compensation. Call today.

Why Am I Receiving a Class Action lawsuit Notification?

If you received a notification about a class action lawsuit, it means that your legal rights may be affected in some way. This could be because:
  • You were a customer/employee of some company involved in the lawsuit – The company that is being sued likely breached some duty it had to customers or employees. For example, a defective product may have injured consumers, or an employer may have failed to pay overtime wages to employees.
  • Your personal information is somehow involved in the lawsuit – if your sensitive information was exposed in a malware attack or data breach.
The notice will most likely describe the allegations against the company/party to the lawsuit and how the case may impact your rights. Sometimes a class member may receive a notification of a class action lawsuit after the case has been settled.

Do I Have to Provide a Response to the Notification?

After you receive a notification of a class action lawsuit, you have the option to respond or ignore it. If the case has been settled, you may wish to claim the portion of the settlement you are owed. However, if the lawsuit has not been resolved, and this notice is letting you know about the ongoing litigation, you may not need to take any further action if you only wish to participate as a class member. If you want to be more involved in the case, you may be able to opt in as a plaintiff. If you want zero connection or involvement to the lawsuit, you can choose to opt out.

Participate as a Class Member

Participating as a class member does not require any action from the person who receives a notification of a class action lawsuit. In most cases, this just means you will be automatically included in the class. A class member is a passive role. When the lawsuit is complete, and successful, all class members receive an equal amount of compensation, regardless of how much harm they suffered.

Opt Out of the Class Action Lawsuit

Opting out of a class action lawsuit can mean one of two things:
  1. You do not wish to have any connection to the lawsuit because it is not for you
  2. You wish to retain your right to bring forth an individual lawsuit
To opt out, the person who receives the notification is usually required to check a corresponding box in the letter. If the case succeeds at trial, you will not be eligible for any monetary awards.

Participate as a Named Plaintiff in the Lawsuit

If you choose to opt in as a named plaintiff, it means you will have a more involved role in the case. Most likely, you will also be in the courtroom if the case goes to trial. Generally, someone who participates as a named plaintiff has suffered more damages than those named as class members. For example, in a defective product case the person may have directly been injured by the product or lost a loved one. Participating as a named plaintiff also means you may receive more compensation than other class members if the case has a favorable result.

Contact a Lawyer for Help. Call Us Today

Our licensed lawyers are prepared to work with you throughout the entire legal process. We have successfully negotiated compensation for class action lawsuits as well as taken the cases to court and won. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.

No upfront fees. No risks. Call 916-777-7777.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.