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chauncy that billups

May 22, 2009 9:59 PM

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Does anyone know WTF happened with the DeBeer's lawsuit settlement? I filled out the forms...I'm wondering if there were so many applicants that it averaged out to less than $10 / person, which if I recall was the threshold where they didn't have to actually make a payment to you.

2 replies

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May 26, 2009 3:34 PM

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@bilups: As Picantel mentioned this was challenged. There's no firm date as to when it will be resolved, but, the hope is that this will happen by the end of next year. I personally submitted a rather large claim for this class action lawsuit so I'm hopeful it wraps up soon!

Warm Regards,
Scott
President and CEO of Top Class Actions LLC
[www.TopClassActions.com]

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picantel

May 22, 2009 10:54 PM

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The last I checked a few months ago it was settled and then about 8 or so people filed objections to the settlement and that pretty much doomed it for the next century.

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May 22, 2009 9:59 PM

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Any idea what the Fuze settlement entails? I'm sure I bought a bottle, and I'm pretty sure of the store, but the date would have to be a guess...so what would I be getting?

This kind of roundup is much appreciated. Class action settlements are often a farce, going only to punish the company and reward the lawyers with very little going to the public at all -- in some cases, worse than nothing with coupons and credits that just end up MAKING money for the company. But they're even more ridiculous when nobody even hears about them, so spread the word.

Also, could you put a note that the link with the drug list is a pdf? Gave my browser a bit of the hiccups and I'm just using Foxit...I know surprise pdf links are a HUGE pain if you unsuspectingly click on one and launch Adobe...

7 replies

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May 23, 2009 1:53 AM

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@bluewyvern: I know it's a little off topic, but I recommend getting rid of Adobe and installing foxit. It's a much faster loading and easier to use PDF reader that works in browser and out.

And it's free -
[www.foxitsoftware.com]

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May 23, 2009 2:48 AM

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@MustyBuckets: I do too. That's why I use Foxit. :)

But seriously, folks. Switch.

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bohemian

May 23, 2009 1:09 AM

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@bluewyvern: Like the TJMAXX settlement? Coupons and not even good ones are hardly compensation for having my debt card data stolen and having my card shut down without me knowing it by my bank.

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May 23, 2009 8:38 AM

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Class-action suit payouts are related to the terms of the settlement and, in the case of a cash settlement, the amount and number of claims. Some claims (like the Fuze claim) are fixed at a specific amount, while others (the drug claim) will be fixed once the settlement is finalized and the number of claims are in.

For the CD price-fixing lawsuit, I claimed two discs, and got $20 back. 3 years later. But, hey, surprise money is awesome. It took me an hour or two just to figure out that a) it wasn't a scam and b) WTF it was for.

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May 22, 2009 11:55 PM

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@bluewyvern: Looks like the settlement is 50¢ per bottle you purchased. If you don't have receipts, it's a max of $5.

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sam1am

May 22, 2009 10:50 PM

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@bluewyvern: I know I've purchased at least 10 bottles of Fuze since 2004. I drink it fairly often. I just guessed at the dates, filing two purchases for varying amounts.

The affirmation down at the bottom doesn't make you swear your dates are correct, just that the drinks were purchased between those dates.

Being able to remember every date you ever purchased a Fuze would be nothing short as a miracle, as is evidenced by this news story:

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May 22, 2009 10:04 PM

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@bluewyvern: Sure, I'll put in a warning. My computer just downloads them and throws them on my desktop, so I forget what a hassle they can be for other people.

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May 22, 2009 10:05 PM

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Is the T-Mobile one just for New Jersey?

2 replies

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May 23, 2009 2:29 AM

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@dianabanana: Nope. A notice was sent to my home in California under my sister's name. Everyone gets a piece of this one.

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May 22, 2009 10:12 PM

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@dianabanana: No, that's just where the suit was filed.

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Andrew Dorsett

May 22, 2009 10:12 PM

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Hmm, I have bought plenty of Fuze Slenderize drinks during that time. But is it morally wrong to be part of this if I was fully aware that this would do nothing for appetite suppressing or weight loss? I bought them because they were tasty and low in calories. Eh, already filled out the form.

1 replies

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UniComp

May 24, 2009 8:55 AM

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@Andrew Dorsett: Well now you can't file because you've just gone on record for declaring your un-involvement.

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May 22, 2009 10:34 PM

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Small detail - the one with the list of 450 drugs is for people who paid cash or paid a percentage-based copay. If you have the type of copay that most people I know have, where you pay a flat rate based on what \"tier\" a given drug is in, you're not eligible. If you pay, say, 10% or 20% of the cost of the drug, or 100% (of course), then you are.

3 replies

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henwy

May 23, 2009 10:08 AM

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@bibliophibian:

Ya, saw that after I went through the list of drugs. Oh well. I know I took a couple rounds of celebrex so at least there's that one.

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bohemian

May 23, 2009 1:11 AM

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@bibliophibian: There is a ton of commonly prescribed drugs on that list. Just the short period of time we had no insurance coverage resulted in a few of those that qualify on the cash payment side.

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May 23, 2009 1:22 AM

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@bohemian: Yep, there were several on there that I had at least one prescription for - then I realized it's % only and I was sad. I pay % for my doctors' visits, but the drug copays are still flat $ amounts based on tier. Dangit! And I think I missed the Bextra/Celebrex window by a year or so.

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RodolfoRabulous

May 22, 2009 10:54 PM

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I qualify for the drug one but cannot find a claim form. Help!

1 replies

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May 23, 2009 1:39 AM

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@RodolfoRabulous: For the one with the 450 drugs, if you click the \"header\" of the paragraph (\"450 Prescription Drugs) it takes you to a website where you you are asked to 'click here' for consumer co-pay, consumer cash-pay, or third party payor. When you click on either of the consumer links, there is a sidebar menu on the left and the third option on both is \"Claim form.\"

For the Bextra and Celebrex one, clicking the \"file a claim\" at the end of the paragraph takes you to the online claim form.

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rlee

May 22, 2009 11:07 PM

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Coincidentally, I just received mail today about one against Nationwide Insurance. Only people who had a claim for structural repair which required a general contractor supervising 3 or more others need apply.

While we're on the subject, whatever happened to the one against credit card companies for their foreign transaction fees? I sent in the form ages ago, and ... nothing.

1 replies

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May 23, 2009 12:22 AM

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I've been wondering about the credit card suit too -- I also filled out the firms - I even had dates and receipts for when I was overseas. It's been so long since I mailed everything in, I've moved twice since then.

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May 22, 2009 11:40 PM

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Man, that microwave thing is SCARY.

2 replies

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May 24, 2009 3:52 AM

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@HogwartsAlum: I flat out refuse GE microwaves, and made the seller of our old house replace the existing GE over range one - and it had nothing to do with this thing. Most GE microwaves have this annoying \"feature\" that makes it go \"BEEP\" every 30 seconds when it's done - it's like water torture when someone cooks something and walks away to do something else for awhile!

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Chmeeee

May 23, 2009 4:35 AM

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@HogwartsAlum: I actually had the problem they describe with a GE Microwave made in 1998, starting about a year ago. It would turn on when I closed the door, even though no cooking settings had been entered (in fact, the display was showing the clock, meaning it should be off).

I dealt with it like that for a week or so (you would just have to keep trying to close the door until it closed without turning on). The last straw was when I was walking through the kitchen and it just turned on. Holy shit! Plug came out of the wall post-haste!

I figured that it had served well over 10 years, so I looked at new GEs briefly on Amazon and was frightened to see people complaining of new units doing the EXACT SAME THING. You think they'd figure this shit out in 10 years. LG for me.

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JulesNoctambule

May 22, 2009 11:42 PM

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Well, colour me surprised -- the only prescription drug I take is on the list! Now how do I get in on this?

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Geekmom

May 22, 2009 11:44 PM

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I was on Zofran for 6 months in 2004 and off and on since. I have bad reactions to the other nausea medications. This stuff is terribly expensive. I can't see where this claim form is that McKessonAWPSettlement site talks about.

1 replies

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H3ion

May 23, 2009 12:07 AM

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@Geekmom: Go to the McKesson AWP settlement web site (use the link in the story). Select the class you're in. That will take you to a notice page. The claim form is accessible from a menu on the left side of the page.

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Anonymous

May 22, 2009 11:48 PM

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Costco has also a class action against them: http://www.costco.com/renewalsettlement.pdf

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May 23, 2009 12:29 AM

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It might be helpful to note in your article that this prescription class action lawsuit is NOT for people who paid flat-rate co-pays (i.e. $20 per brand, $10 per generic), but rather for people who paid a percentage based co-pay.

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gStein_*|bringing starpipe back|*

May 23, 2009 1:22 AM

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i'm sorry, PET DEATHS? how?

PRO TIP: the microwave is not a good place to keep your hamster.

i've had my current GE microwave since mid 2002 when it was installed, and about a year ago the turntable started making a loud grinding noise, then stopped working entirely. (now it doesn't work, but still makes the grinding noise about 80% of the time)

2 replies

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May 23, 2009 1:54 AM

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PRO TIP: the microwave is not a good place to keep your hamster.

CRAP!!!! *rushes to grab hamster*

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Ragman

May 23, 2009 2:11 PM

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@Laura Northrup: But my hamster LOVES the turntable...

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Trai_Dep

May 23, 2009 7:53 PM

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@Ragman: And 1/1000 will survive while developing groovy mutant powers!

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fatcop

May 23, 2009 8:43 PM

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@Trai_Dep: Like learning karate and adopting baby turtles who in turn learn karate.

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May 23, 2009 3:16 AM

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There's the iPod nano class action lawsuit, too.

[www.ipodnanosettlement.com]

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starrion

May 23, 2009 3:34 AM

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I haven't been able to find out anything about when the debeer's settlement will progress. How many years will that appeal to the settlement actually take anyway?

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Wendy Sloan

May 23, 2009 11:45 AM

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My coworker had the same problem with her Cuisinart microwave. Seems that the more sophisticated the microwave is, the more likely it's gonna turn on by itself a la Maximum Overdrive.

The Tmobile settlement gives you a choice of the following:
extra 50 call minutes per month for 3 months
extra 200 txt msgs per month for 3 months
7 days hotspot access.

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Joe Bastone

May 23, 2009 12:32 PM

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There is also a class action lawsuit from Costco regarding how memberships were renewed.
[www.costco.com]

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May 24, 2009 1:27 AM

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I have been a part of several class-action suits. I can assure you all that the only ones getting rich are the blood-sucking lawyers who initiate them.

smallest settlement: $1.63 from Allstate

second smallest settlement: $2.35 from Ucarco (remember them?)

largest settlement: 1 free CD from Columbia House ~ $10

DOWn, baby, DOWn!

2 replies

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May 26, 2009 3:32 PM

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@parrotuya: I'd recommend checking out Top Class Actions. There are multiple open settlements right now that would allow you make a claim which could REALLY boost those numbers. You'll be surprised what you may be eligible to claim.
[www.topclassactions.com]
There are multiple settlements open right now covering prescription drugs. Those could amount to hundreds of dollars per person if you're eligible.

Warm Regards,
Scott
President of Top Class Actions
[www.TopClassActions.com]

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May 24, 2009 3:53 AM

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@parrotuya: I got $55 from the Airborne settlement...

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nukee

May 24, 2009 6:27 AM

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I got one today about bluetooth headsets. Apparently the manufacturers didn't warn me about the risk of hearing loss from using the product.

On a related note, when the fuck did common sense fly out the window?

1 replies

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UniComp

May 24, 2009 8:58 AM

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@nukee: common whatsit now?

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May 25, 2009 2:38 AM

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There were commercials awhile back concerning Heparin. I first saw it while sitting in the hospital room watching my mom have a Heparin drip put in.

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May 31, 2009 9:16 PM

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You forgot to include the financial market. I once had some retirement monies \"invested\" with Merrill Lynch, and I constantly get mailers from them with this or that firm being sued for misrepresenting/cheating/scamming. I did it once; filled out 10 pages, signed and notarized, and finally got back a check for $2.25 on a multi-million $ settlement. Almost paid the postage. Now I throw them all out.

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