Rebel Television

It is my belief that class action suits, for the most part, exist to make huge sums for the lawyers, diddly squat for the plaintiffs, and bilk it all from a company that may not have even done much wrong to begin with.

If you've ever used Netflix, you've most likely been emailed about this.

Class-action lawsuit settlement forces Netflix privacy changes | Ars Technica

Well, I wish no part in this. So what do I have to do to not be part of this? According to Video Privacy Class > Commonly Asked Questions :

Wow. Apparently in America, its so easy to litigate that its now harder NOT to sue someone.

And isn't this about privacy violation? So why does some lawyer I've never corresponded with have my name and email and has already included me in their case? That seems like the violation, to me.

Rebel Television

Here's what those valiant lawyers did for the common good the last time they went after Netflix:

Yet Again, Netflix Class Action Shows That Class Action Lawsuits Are Mostly About Making Lawyers Rich | Techdirt

Kara Spengler

What I hate about class action suits is they are like those disclaimers people put in their SL profiles. If somebody files a class action suit and you do not know about it you have lost the right to sue on your own. Or even if you do know about it you have to explicitly opt out (rather than opt in).

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Richie Waves

It is my understanding that class action suits allow a lot of small folk to take on the big folk..

Rebel Television

The road to fattening a lawyer's wallet is paved with good intentions.

Richie Waves

The entire justice system is designed for these guys to make money.

Amity Slade

Theoretically, class action suits exist to make it possible when someone damages a large number of people by a small enough amount to make it impractical for each person to sue individually.

It's up to you and your particular situation, but as a general matter, there is no reason to exclude yourself from a class unless you think you can do better pursuing the action individually. (Or I suppose in the rare case where you get nothing by staying in the class- if the Netflix class action gives absolutely nothing to the members of the class, there is nothing to gain by staying in.)

I have gotten a few checks from class action settlements- I don't remember exactly, I think one was about ten dollars and the other about twenty- but I'll accept free money.

Ramen Jedburgh

I was part of a class action for a fotmer employer not paying proper overtine a few years ago and actually got a pretty heafty check out of it.

That said, I don't wany Netflix to screw up its recomendation engine by "divorcing my name from my viewed content". Can I opt out of that?

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Ramen Jedburgh
Abusively Cute ^_^

Eris

The lawyers get $2.5 million, the two assholes who started it get $30,000 each, and everyone else gets jack shit whether they're in or out?

I think the two named plaintiffs should have to pay Netflix $30,000 each, the attorneys be fined $2.5 million and disbarred.

Lo Jacobs

Ugh. Pain in the ass.

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Darien Caldwell

The reason there is so much documentation associated with 'excluding' yourself from a class action lawsuit is, you can still sue Netflix yourself later. So there has to be documented proof that you didn't agree to be included in the class action if/when you go after Netflix yourself.

Of course I understand that's not your intent, but Nexflix's Lawyers and these Class action Lawyers don't know that.

It's also probably prudent to note excluding yourself doesn't make the Lawyers any less money. It just means all of the other plaintiffs in the class action group get to divide up your 2 dollar check among themselves.

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[H]arsh Styles

Jolene Benoir

I got one of those emails because years ago I used Netflix.

Imo, class action lawsuits have become nothing but a way for lawyers to fill their coffers. Usually, the people that were wronged receive nada, a pittance, or some discount on future purchase.

The lawyers walk away with millions of dollars.

The idea behind class action suits is valid, but it's been perverted, so much so, that they are meaningless.

Jolene Benoir

And heck, if Netflix can be sued for keeping people's data on file, I am ready to sue Google.

Aliselia Aeon

I was part of a large class action suit years ago-I don't even remember what company-and received an award of a bit under 2 dollars USD

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Void

it wasn't about keeing people's data on file, it was about keeping identifiable data on file and selling that to other parties...

personally the idea of selling identifiable information by itself is bad enough, but to do it after you've already terminated your relationship with the company? that's just asking to be shot in the foot.

yeah it blows that it's the lawyers that are the ones profiting most from these things... their costs are ridiculously inflated. but it did still benefit even current users... they can no longer sell your personal history with identifiable information, and they can't sell your identity on after you've left. things that should have been in place from the start, but better late than never.

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Menchor Barbosa

I got a notice of a class action suit for a stock manipulation on a stock I had owned. After going through all the paperwork just to get an idea of the size of it I concluded it would take me about 3 hours worth of work and printing, plus mailing all this in at my expense to possibly collect $18. Pass.

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Ramen Jedburgh

I got one for some sort of eBay Motors lawsuit once for like .60 cents. The tiny chexk was so rediculous that I just kept it instead of cashing it.

Eris

According to the article, there aren't any $2 checks. All the money goes to lawyers, two named plaintiffs and charities. It's a shakedown.

Jolene Benoir

You are absolutely right. It can change future behavior, and that is a strong plus.

That doesn't do one bit of good for those that were wronged though. For example, they likely sold my name. Not that it is something that keeps me up at night. That can happen by using Facebook. You can't unring the bell. Justice is supposed to be about correcting wrongs for the people that were wronged, right?

I still see it as nothing but a money grab, from deep pockets, for lawyers.

Jolene Benoir

Many moons ago, my mother was included (well sent information about) a class action lawsuit against a money lender.

It had something to do with their interest rates being illegal.

Though it was clearly a case of unlawful behavior none of the people who had been screwed out of the money got a dime. They received a discount coupon to get a loan from them again.

Oh goodie. You may have screwed someone out of hundreds or thousands of dollars, but now they get a coupon to use your services again? Like that would happen.

Imo, the better situation would have been to have refunded the money to those affected. That doesn't seem to be how class action lawsuits work, nor even the goal.

Void

unfortunately we do not have a system of justice, but rather a system of law... that means that bad deeds generally do get punished, but the past victims are not generally the ones that benefit from it.

you'll get no argument from me as to how ridiculous it is that the lawyers and a few plaintiffs get massively rewarded, and everyone else gets "not screwed further"...