Class Action Lawsuit

[drlove]

As most of you are probably aware, as a result of the Listeria outbreak, a class action lawsuit has been launched against Maple Leaf Foods. How long does a lawsuit like this typically take to resolve itself? Also, how are payouts determined? Are you guaranteed to receive monetary compensation for the sole reason of being listed as one of the victims? Certainly, someone who has lost a loved one has more of a claim than someone who only suspected that they had eaten contaminated meat and is looking for compensation for undue mental suffering/anguish/distress. Thoughts??

 

[red]

could take ten years

 

[lawyerman]

could take ten years

It is a horrible tragedy but I agree with red. This will take a very long time.

 

[train]

As most of you are probably aware, as a result of the Listeria outbreak, a class action lawsuit has been launched against Maple Leaf Foods. How long does a lawsuit like this typically take to resolve itself? Also, how are payouts determined? Are you guaranteed to receive monetary compensation for the sole reason of being listed as one of the victims? Certainly, someone who has lost a loved one has more of a claim than someone who only suspected that they had eaten contaminated meat and is looking for compensation for undue mental suffering/anguish/distress. Thoughts??

I'm the recipient of damages from a class action lawsuit for price fixing. In this case the the defendant companies pleaded guilty and paid a lump some settlement into court. Dividing the settlement amongst the plaintifs was relatively simple since it was based soley on how much each plantif had purchased. It still took 3 years before payout.

I'm guessing Maple Leaf will settle as quickly as they can but proving a claim unless you have a doctors certificate will be impossible I think. Processing the claims and seperating the valid from the invalid will take a very long time. How they will decide to split the settlement amongst the valid claimants will decide how long it takes.

 

[drlove]

.

I'm guessing Maple Leaf will settle as quickly as they can but proving a claim unless you have a doctors certificate will be impossible I think. Processing the claims and seperating the valid from the invalid will take a very long time. How they will decide to split the settlement amongst the valid claimants will decide how long it takes.

This raises an interesting point. The law firm in question stated that individuals may still apply for compensation even if they have not ingested any contaminated meat, but who believed they may have, thus causing mental distress. How would one prove or disprove a claim such as this?