Top 10 settlement payouts of 2022

Top Class Actions readers got lucky this year with thousands of dollars in 2022 settlement payouts!

Some 2022 settlements resulted in smaller payments of a hundred dollars or less, while others resulted in payments in the thousands. Our readers reported a range of payments throughout the year, some small and others much larger than expected.

Here are the top 10 settlement payouts reported by TCA readers this year:

1. Transpacific Airlines settlement

At the top of the list, one Top Class Actions reader reported a settlement payment of $5,191.88 in March 2022 from a $50 million Transpacific Airlines class action settlement.

This reader received thousands of dollars after submitting a claim with the Transpacific Airlines settlement. Other readers received payments based on the number of tickets they purchased during the Class period.

According to the class action lawsuit, Transpacific Airlines conspired with other airlines to raise the price of flights between the United States and Asia or Oceania. As a result of this scheme, the plaintiffs and other fliers allegedly paid much more for tickets than they would have in a healthy market.

2. Texas Voestalpine dust settlement

The second-highest payment came in July 2022 when two TCA viewers reported settlement checks of $4,000 or more from an $88 million Voestalpine settlement.

The two readers reported payments of $4,000 and $4,170.65 after filing claims with the class action settlement. Other readers received payments in the hundreds after participating in the settlement.

Plaintiffs in the case claimed Volestalpine’s La Quinta, Texas, factory produced large amounts of dust that settled on homes, cars and property in the surrounding areas. Local residents allegedly experienced inconvenience and other damages despite promises that the factory wouldn’t affect surrounding communities.

3. Hills pet food settlement

One Top Class Actions reader reported a payment of $2,587.44 from a $12.5 million Hills pet food class action settlement.

This reader received thousands of dollars after filing a claim with the settlement. Other claimants received similar payments based on the products purchased and any screening and treatment costs linked to the dog food.

According to the Hills pet food class action lawsuit, the company’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet canned food contained too much vitamin D. This allegedly caused injuries for pets and significant expenses for pet owners.

4. Amtrak ADA settlement

A $2.25 million Amtrak Americans with Disabililties Act (ADA) class action settlement resulted in payments of up to $2,500, according to TCA readers.

Our readers reportedly received thousands of dollars after participating in the class action settlement. Payments varied depending on proximity to non-compliant Amtrak stations and personal experiences at these stations.

The U.S. government filed the ADA class action lawsuit, claiming Amtrak failed to comply with federal disability law. The company was reportedly ordered to improve existing stations to make them accessible to disabled individuals but failed to do so. As a result, passengers were allegedly harmed by accessibility issues.

5. Provigil California price-fixing settlement

California readers reported payments of up to $2,500 from a $65 million national class action settlement and a $69 million state settlement resolving Provigil price-fixing allegations.

California readers received payments of $2,500 from the settlement – higher than payments received by readers in other states. Payments from the settlement varied depending on settlement residency and the amount paid for prescriptions.

Plaintiffs and California regulators took legal action against several pharmaceutical companies, accusing the distributors of a price-fixing scheme. The scheme allegedly raised and fixed the price of Provigil, Nuvigil and modafinil, causing patients and other payers to pay an inflated price for these medications.

6. Cancer medication price-fixing settlement

Another price-fixing settlement worth $55 million, this time with cancer medication formulators, resulted in payments of up to $1,968 for Top Class Actions viewers.

Readers reported payments ranging from only $13 to over $1,000. Payments from the price-fixing settlement varied depending on the amount paid for cancer medications. 

According to the cancer drug class action lawsuit, pharmaceutical companies conspired to suppress cheaper generic alternatives to Thalomid and Revlimid. As a result, patients and other payers allegedly had to pay a higher price for brand-name cancer drugs. The plaintiffs in the case sought reimbursement for these higher prices.

7. Kitec plumbing settlement

Top Class Action readers received payments of up to $1,362.50 from a Kitec class action settlement resolving property damage allegations.

After over a decade, readers reported payments of up to $1,362.50 from the settlement. Payments varied depending on various factors including the amount paid to repair property damage.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuits claimed IPEX Kitec plumbing systems failed prematurely and caused leaks and water damage in homes. According to the class action lawsuit, consumers had to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for repairs after their Kitec plumbing parts failed.

8. Provigil non-California price-fixing settlement

The $65 million Provigil settlement secured another entry in this list from non-California claimants who received up to $1,325.95 from the fund.

Although these payments were not as high as those received by Californians, non-Californian readers reported receiving payments of over $1,000 from the Provigil settlement. Like California payments, these rebates varied depending on the amount paid for the covered medications.

Plaintiffs claimed they paid too much for Provigil, Nuvigil and modafinil due to an illegal price-fixing agreement between drug manufacturers. 

9. LG refrigerator settlement

One TCA reader reported receiving a payment of $1,150 from a $1.5 million LG refrigerator class action settlement.

Readers reported payments from $680 to $1,150 from the settlement after filing a claim. Payments were capped at $6,000 for LG refrigerator purchases.

According to the LG refrigerator class action lawsuit, the appliances were manufactured with faulty compressors. These defective parts allegedly caused unstable temperatures that spoiled food and other perishables stored in the refrigerators. Plaintiffs in the case claimed financial damage from property loss, repair costs and more.

10. DoorDash driver mileage settlement

In the tenth entry on this list, a TCA reader reported receiving $432 from a $100 million DoorDash mileage class action settlement.

The Top Class Actions viewer received their payment after filing a claim with the settlement. Other readers reported similar payments which varied depending on the miles traveled while completing DoorDash deliveries.

Plaintiffs in the DoorDash class action lawsuit accused the delivery app of misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors. According to the class action lawsuits, drivers were actually employees and should have received benefits such as mileage reimbursement.

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