# Woo Hoo! The scales of justice tip out...4 fucking dollars **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 17, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452 "2003-12-17T03:15:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/21 "2003-12-17T21:04:59Z")
I got a check for $34 and some change. Something to do with a mortgage class-action suit that I wasn’t even aware of. ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/22 "2003-12-17T21:08:50Z")
Lynn, I’ve gotten coupons in the past for wrongs done me, I always just go to the competitor, talk to a supervisor, explain what happened and asked if they’d accept the coupon to begin a new business relationship with the new company. Only once was I turned down. Also, if anyone here yet to read The King Of Torts by Grisham, do so now. I kind of knew how class-actions worked, but this really details it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/23 "2003-12-17T21:23:17Z")
I got a class action check for $0.05. That’s right, a nickel. Didn’t even bother cashing it. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/24 "2003-12-17T21:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Controvert \* > \*\*I got a class action check for $0.05. That’s right, a nickel. Didn’t even bother cashing it. \*\* Frame it. I bet it’s pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/25 "2003-12-17T21:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, if anyone here yet to read The King Of Torts by Grisham, do so now. I kind of knew how class-actions worked, but this really details it. I’ve always felt that life is too short to read Grisham novels. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/26 "2003-12-17T23:19:31Z")
> [@](#): > > It looks like the lawyers fees were only about 5% of the reward in this case, which doesn’t seem excessive. > > Also, I don’t know any way to split money between a million people equally that will give you a worthwhile amount. I guess you’re talking about the WU case; yeah, and I’m not really kicking about that so much. I was just amused by the mental image of dozens of lawyers tied up in court for something like three years over an issue that, in the end, results in a corporation spitting out a coupon for a couple of bucks to someone who didn’t even know that they’d once been, presumably, fleeced for that amount. Hey, somebody wants to send me money (or credit, at least) that I never even missed to begin with, who am I to complain? ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/27 "2003-12-17T23:27:04Z")
When I was in the seveth grade, I got a check for two dollars because I was one of the millions duped into purchasing the Milli Vanilli album. Funny, I’m pretty sure my parents paid more than that. Thankfully, my taste in music improved dramatically after the age of eleven. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/28 "2003-12-17T23:38:57Z")
Lynn, what is YMMV? FWIW, I’d rather read Grisham, who knows a great deal about the law being a lawyer and all (and not lucwarm), to wading through law journals. Not sure why offering this book, which is a great insight to class-action suits, would offend you so. A great reason to cite the book? It helps explain why we see the latest mesothylioma (sp?) tv ads that give an 800 number, then the disclaimer that the ad lawyer is only licensed in 2 or 3 states, while the rest are given to “affiliated” firms. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/29 "2003-12-18T00:45:32Z")
YMMV = Your mileage may vary. **Lynn** ’s just saying she doesn’t care for Grisham, that’s all. Lot’s don’t, me included. Nor do some of us believe all that we read in _fiction_. I’m sure Grisham is fairly accurate (though I’ll never know), but it’s, well, fiction, dude. ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/30 "2003-12-18T01:07:13Z")
thanks for the ymmv answer. keeping the record straight, I certainly wouldn’t cite a Grisham quoet in court, but when someone actually puts in as much effort to research even a fictional novel, I’d take it as a pretty good effort to explain real world stuff. Now, if he tried to write a novel based on psychological/medical like Chricton does, I’d be suspect. I never said his novels were textbook material. Fiction CAN be based on fact. That’s what sometimes makes a great story ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/31 "2003-12-18T01:10:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\* > The notice cheerily adds that I’m have the right to hire an attorney to represent me if I wish, and of course I’m welcome to attend the hearing. > \*\* Feel free to e-mail me to discuss. [smileydave@hotmail.com](mailto:smileydave@hotmail.com) (standard disclaimers) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/32 "2003-12-18T04:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Feel free to e-mail me to discuss. Uh, will you take on my case for a coupon good for four dollars off a Western Union wire transfer? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/33 "2003-12-18T07:55:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\*Uh, will you take on my case for a coupon good for four dollars off a Western Union wire transfer? 😃 \*\* Sure. Or perhaps less. Plus whatever I can wheedle out of other sources. But that would be my problem - not your problem. (standard disclaimers . . . ) ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/34 "2003-12-18T08:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lucwarm \* > \*\*Sure. Or perhaps less. Plus whatever I can wheedle out of other sources. But that would be my problem - not your problem. > > (standard disclaimers . . . ) \*\* Errr, I should probably mention that I ain’t gonna create an attorney-client relationship by discussing something over an internet bboard. But feel free to e-mail me to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/35 "2003-12-18T08:22:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SeekingTruth \* > \*\*Lynn, what is YMMV? FWIW, I’d rather read Grisham, who knows a great deal about the law being a lawyer and all (and not lucwarm), to wading through law journals. Not sure why offering this book, which is a great insight to class-action suits, would offend you so. A great reason to cite the book? It helps explain why we see the latest mesothylioma (sp?) tv ads that give an 800 number, then the disclaimer that the ad lawyer is only licensed in 2 or 3 states, while the rest are given to “affiliated” firms. \*\* I don’t care for Grisham, and I don’t believe that he is particularly accurate about portraying characters and situations\*. Apparently a lot of people DO like Grisham’s stories. However, my daughter works in a used book store, and I can basically borrow any non-valuable book they have (probably I could borrow valuable ones, too, but I wouldn’t feel right asking to). I read a lot of light fiction, and it’s at no cost to me. I can send a note with my daughter, to remind her of which authors and books I want to try. There’s always LOTS of Grisham available, even the newest ones after a couple of weeks. Even though I will incur no monetary cost, I won’t read Grisham. I simply don’t care for his writing. I feel that I could spend that hour and a half more productively, doing something else. Other people like Grisham’s writing well enough that they will pay enough money to buy his works in hardback. And yeah, YMMV means Your Mileage May Vary, which was an advertising phrase that was common in car ads a while back. \*I have some knowledge of various character types and situations that he’s written about, and he’s been either rather sloppy or dead wrong in those cases. So I tend to view him as an unreliable source for ANY information. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/36 "2003-12-18T13:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Errr, I should probably mention that I ain’t gonna create an attorney-client relationship by discussing something over an internet bboard. But feel free to e-mail me to discuss. Thanks, and not to pee all over your breakfast or anything, but I think I’ll decline to add to the already groaning load of litigation in this instance. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Lambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lambo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/37 "2003-12-18T19:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > \*\*I got five cents from Citibank. > > Thankfully they credited it to me electronically. \*\* DING DING, I think I win! (actually, my wife won.) A whopping 3 cents. She no longer has her Citibank card, so they can’t credit it to her account, so tomorrow, when I take some other checks in, I get to deposit that one, too (or use it to pick up after the dog, I haven’t made up my mind, yet). ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452/38 "2003-12-19T17:35:07Z")
> [@](#): > > The problem, of course, is that the system is now being milked by lawfirms looking for something to keep themselves fat and happy. They end up “hunting” for class actions to pursue, as a means of generating income. A-men, brother. Personally I think the solution lies in limiting the admission to law school. We have too many lawyers and not enough honest work to keep them busy. Re legal advice: I know this is common sense, but I would be very reticent accepting legal or medical advice from anyone on the internet, on or off the boards. There are some people who are smarter than tacks on this board who I _still_ wouldn’t trust them to give sound legal or medical advice without meeting them in person and verifying their credentials. I would also be cautious of any professional who solicited clients via a message board, esp. if he used a hotmail account. Just MHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woo-hoo-the-scales-of-justice-tip-out-4-fucking-dollars/219452.md?page=1)