A “class-action” lawsuit is a procedural device that allows for multiple plaintiffs that have suffered the same wrong at the hands of the same defendant to prosecute a lawsuit on behalf of a group. This can avoid the difficulties of having too many plaintiffs against a defendant in any jurisdiction, thereby saving the court time and preventing the risk of inconsistent rulings.
According to the Consumer Action Database, there are currently 109 class action lawsuits open to claims, 37 pending class action lawsuits, and 560 closed class action lawsuits.
The following are some current class action lawsuits where attorneys in your area may be accepting litigants or claimants.
- Class Action Lawsuit Against 3M for Defective Earplugs: A settlement was reached in July 2018 against the company 3M for selling defective earplugs to the U.S. Government. The litigation began in 2016 when a whistleblower came forward and revealed under the False Claims Act 3M falsified claims that its Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 met the required safety standards for hearing protection. The earplugs were standard issue for military armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2015. 3M agreed to pay $9.1 million to the U.S. Government for failing to disclose the defects of the product. Those who may be eligible for monetary compensation are service men and women who used the earplugs and suffered from hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of the defects.
- GM Airbag Recall: Many GM vehicles are completely safe. However, the company revealed that a computer glitch could cause the software that tells the airbags to deploy to enter test mode. If the computer is in this mode when an accident happens, the airbags will not deploy if an accident occurs. Nearly 4 million vehicles are affected. The company has admitted that the defect has been responsible for at least one death. According to the company, they were not made aware of the glitch until 2016.
- Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Lawsuit: Since the early 1980s, there have been studies that have suggested a link between the use of talcum powder in the genital area and ovarian cancer. The first such lawsuit was filed against Johnson & Johnson in 2013, which was found in favor of the plaintiff. Johnson & Johnson is facing some 11,000 lawsuits regarding the connection of its talcum powder and cancer.
- AndroGel Lawsuit: For men suffering from low testosterone levels, AndroGel has become a popular treatment. AndroGel can help men combat fatigue, depression, and low sex drive, along with other male health issues. However, some of the men using the therapy were not told that it came with an increased risk of coronary problems such as heart attack and stroke. AndroGel can thicken the blood of the men using it, thereby leading to deadly health issues.
A class-action lawsuit can help multiple people who suffered the same or similar harm at the hands of one company receive compensation. If you believe that you might have an interest in a class-action lawsuit, contact an attorney today.