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If you’ve ever purchased a product or service, chances are you’ve received a class action settlement notice in the mail.
These sometimes obscure-looking notices are often mistaken as junk mail or purposefully tossed in the trash for being “not worth my time.” After all, why would you take the time to fill out and mail back a Claim Form for a measly $5 to $10 when you spent hundreds – or thousands – of dollars on the product in question?
Here’s why: Sometimes these class action settlements pay out BIG bucks.
Over 3.3 million consumers know this. That’s the number of people who visited TopClassActions.com this year to find class action settlements they qualify to file claims for. We’re the #1 source of class action news online, and TCA staff tries to report on every consumer class action lawsuit and settlement filed.
The average payout reported on TopClassActions.com varies, ranging from $10 to $100 or more. We scoured the hundreds of articles we posted last year and came up with this list of the biggest class action settlement payments awarded to consumers in 2014.
1. $1.1 Billion LCD Panel Settlement
Up to $200-$500 and more/Claimant
Payments from this historic settlement – the largest antitrust class action settlement ever reached before 2012 – were finally mailed to Class Members in October. The LCD settlement resolved multiple class action lawsuits filed in 2006 that accused 10 manufacturers of conspiring to fix and raise the prices of flat-panel monitors and televisions since at least 1999. Several of the companies also pleaded guilty and were convicted of criminal charges brought by federal investigators.
Defendants were Toshiba, LG, AU Optronics, Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi, Epson, Chimei, Chunghwa and HannStar.
Class Members of the LCD antitrust class action settlement included consumers in 24 states who purchased televisions, laptops and desktop computers with LCD screens between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2006. Claimants were expected to receive $43.49 per laptop or computer monitor and $86.98 per television. Some TopClassActions.com viewers reported receiving over $500 for their purchases. Now, that’s why you fill out those pesky claim forms!
2. $53 Million Apple iPhone/iPod Warranty Settlement
$122-$250/Claimant
Apple iPhone and iPod owners received checks in September worth between $122 and $250 from a 2013 class action settlement with Apple. Plaintiffs accused the company of refusing to honor its warranties for damaged iPhones and iPod Touch devices based on its assessment that they made contact with water. The class action lawsuit was filed after the manufacturer of the Liquid Contact Indicators used in these devices admitted that humidity could cause them to falsely indicate the device had come into contact with water.
3. Honda Engine Misfire Settlement
$235-$300/Claimant
For years Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot and Crosstour owners were complaining that their vehicles were excessively burning oil. The alleged defect forced vehicle owners to constantly monitor oil levels and pay expensive repair bills to fix resulting damage, a class action lawsuit alleged. Honda Motor Co. denied there was a problem, but agreed in November 2013 to a class action settlement to resolve the litigation.
Thousands of Honda owners filed successful claims and received free warranty extensions and refunds for repair bills. Average payouts of between $235 and $294 were mailed to claimants in July 2014.
4. Gerber Childrenswear Settlement
Up to $200/Claimant
This summer, hundreds of parents received checks worth up to $200 from a class action settlement involving Gerber Childrenswear. Plaintiffs claimed that Gerber apparel manufactured by Jay Jay Mills and Kitex from 2005 to 2009 contained chemicals that caused skin irritation on their children. Gerber denied the allegations but agreed to provide consumers reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs incurred to treat skin irritation, reimbursement for clothing purchases, replacement garments, and discount vouchers. The total class action settlement amount was undisclosed.
5. $18.6 Million Intellicorp Background Check Settlement
$50-$2,000/Claimant
Job seekers who had their criminal background report submitted to a potential employer by Intellicorp Records Inc. or Insurance Information Exchange (IIX) were eligible to claim between $50 and $2,000 from a class action settlement over allegations the reports violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Payments varied depending on the inaccuracy of the information contained in the background reports. TopClassActions.com viewers reported receiving payments worth $327 in November.
6. $11.5 Million Michigan Student Loan Settlement
$50-$1,200/Claimant
Student loans are expensive, so when a Michigan lender terminated an interest-free loan program in 2010, students banded together and took action. Eligible student loan borrowers received payments of between $50 and $1,200 this summer from a class action lawsuit settlement with Michigan Finance Authority. Plaintiffs accused the lender of illegally terminating the Michigan Students First interest-free loan program, forcing borrowers to pay higher interest rates than originally promised.
7. $4.55 Million Best Buy TCPA Robocall Settlement
$50-$100 per call/Claimant
Earlier this year, Best Buy agreed to settle allegations that it placed illegal robocalls to consumers without their consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The TCPA prohibits companies from contacting consumers, without prior express consent, using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice. Consumers who received a robocall from Best Buy between 2007 and 2011 were eligible to claim between $50 and $100 per unlawful call. Checks for the Best Buy class action settlement were mailed the week of Thanksgiving, an early Christmas present for many.
Don’t Miss Out in 2015!
If you missed out on the top class action lawsuit settlements of 2014, check out our comprehensive list of open class action settlements still accepting claims. If you’re not following TopClassActions.com, sign up for their free weekly newsletter now.
4 thoughts onTop Class Action Settlement Payouts of 2014
I need to up date my address.
1-844-322-8154, also if you have your claim number you can mail it to the adjusters address. I had to contact them because my mail was being stolen.
I did not receive my check from Barbara’s Bakery class action settlement. I contacted them by mail providing my suit confirmation number on 9/13/14 to inquire why payment was not forthcoming. I thought possibly the check could have gotten lost in the mail, or discarded, due to its small postcard size. NEVER received a reply or explanation from this settlement.
Who do i contact about the Kashi class action? I moved and there’s a possibility the check went to my old address