It might seem as if big business rules the world, but that doesn’t mean they aren't above suspicion. In fact, companies have to comply with various rules, regulations and laws to avoid criminal and civil negligence.
Most people can’t afford to pay for a lawsuit to sue a company or institution. That’s where a class action lawsuit comes in. It allows groups of people with the same or similar grievances whose alleged damages are too small to warrant an individual lawsuit to join forces and have their cases represented.
Class actions have enabled individuals to hold some of the world's most powerful organizations accountable for their actions, from the environmental effects of oil spills to the defrauding of shareholders. And in some cases, the settlement amounts are staggering.
These are the biggest class action settlements of all time.