What is the largest class-action lawsuit in history?

Asked by: Prof. Zackary Christiansen PhD  |  Last update: October 29, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (62 votes)

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement - $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

What is the largest class action lawsuit ever?

1. Tobacco settlements for $206 billion [The Largest Ever] In 1998, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and two other tobacco companies agreed to a $206 billion settlement, at a minimum, covering medical costs for smoking-related illnesses.

What is the biggest lawsuit ever for one person?

$150 Billion For The Family of Robert Middleton

In 1998, eight-year-old Robert Middleton was sexually assaulted, doused in gasoline, and lit on fire by then 13-year-old Don Collins. Middleton received burns over 99 percent of his body. The story shocked the world, but the tragic tale was far from over.

What is the largest jury verdicts ever?

$4.69 Billion

The case of Ingham v. Johnson & Johnson was one of the largest lawsuits of all time. Allegations were made that Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer and a lawsuit was brought a series of victims and their families.

Who makes the most money in a class action lawsuit?

Contrary to popular belief, class action settlements are not divided among class members evenly. Lead plaintiffs receive the most money in class action lawsuits. They typically have the worst injuries and the highest damages.

How One Farmer's Fight Became the Largest Class Action Lawsuit in U.S. History | The Pay Check S3E3

41 related questions found

What is the largest lawsuit payout ever?

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement - $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

What is the largest lawsuit ever paid out?

Number 1: The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement

The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is also the biggest civil litigation settlement in US history. At USD246 billion, it is unlikely to be beaten any time soon. The case was brought against all the major tobacco companies by more than 40 US states.

Has a judge ever overrule a jury's verdict?

Once a verdict has been rendered, either guilty or not guilty, the judge cannot overrule the jury. However, under California law, a defendant can make a motion for judgment of acquittal before the evidence is submitted to the jury.

What is the fastest jury deliberation in history?

On 22 July 2004, Nicholas Clive McAllister (New Zealand) was acquitted of cultivating cannabis plants at a hearing that lasted just one minute at Greymouth District Court, Greymouth, West Coast, New Zealand The jury left to consider the verdict at 3.28pm and returned at 3.29 pm.

What was the longest running jury trial in US?

In early May 1895, the Morrisson Will Trial became the longest-running jury trial in U.S. history.

What was the weirdest court case?

Subway Sandwich Lawsuit

A man found a 7 inch serrated plastic knife baked into his subway sandwich and decided to sue the company for damages. He filed a $1 million lawsuit, he also said he contracted food poisoning from the sandwich, leading to severe stomach aches. The personal injury claim was settled.

What is the most common lawsuit in America?

Car Accident Lawsuits

Car accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits.

How much did Pfizer payout in the lawsuit?

In 2018, Pfizer agreed to pay $23.8 million settlement to the U.S. government resolve claims that it used a foundation as a conduit to fund the copays of Medicare patients taking Sutent, Inlyta and Tikosyn, in violation of the False Claims Act.

What president has had the most lawsuits?

Donald Trump: The Most Sued President In US History.

What is the success rate of a class action lawsuit?

Across all major types of class actions, court-issued rulings on 360 motions to grant or to deny class certification in 2022. Of these, plaintiffs succeed in obtaining or maintaining certification in 268 rulings, an overall success rate of nearly 75%.”

What was the first class action lawsuit ever?

In 1820, class actions were implemented into American jurisprudence due to the opinion of West v. Randall, one of the earliest class actions in the United States.

What is the shortest deliberation ever recorded?

Question 1: What was the shortest time taken by a jury to make its decision? Answer: Unbelievably, one minute! According to Guinness World Records, on 22 July 2004 Nicholas McAllister was acquitted in New Zealand's Greymouth District Court of growing cannabis plants.

What's the longest trial in history?

The McMartin Preschool Abuse Trial, the longest and most expensive criminal trial in American history, should serve as a cautionary tale. When it was all over, the government had spent seven years and $15 million dollars investigating and prosecuting a case that led to no convictions.

Is a fast verdict good or bad?

It depends. If the case is very one-sided for the prosecution, a slow verdict is a bad sign. If the case appears more even, a fast verdict usually means bad news for the prosecution.

Can a judge overturn a death sentence?

Use in capital cases. Only four U.S. states have allowed judicial overrides: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, and Indiana. Indiana abolished it in 2002, Florida in 2016, and Alabama in 2017.

Is the death penalty a judge or jury?

The death penalty can only be imposed on defendants convicted of capital offenses – such as murder, treason, genocide, or the killing or kidnapping of a Congressman, the President, or a Supreme Court justice. Unlike other punishments, a jury must decide whether to impose the death penalty.

Can a jury be wrong?

We all accept that sometimes juries get things right and sometimes they get things wrong, but this is our system of justice. There are times when the ultimate decision of a jury in an injury trial can be questioned, and even overturned. These are rare situations, but they do happen.

What is the dumbest lawsuit award?

The Stella Awards are given for the most frivolous lawsuits in the United States.

How much did Coca Cola pay in lawsuit?

The Coca-Cola Bottlers' Association settled a class action lawsuit for $3.3 million over claims that its 401(k) plan breached ERISA laws by charging extreme record-keeping fees and promoting overpriced investment offerings.

What is the longest running lawsuit?

Lasting for more than fifty years, the Myra Clark Gaines litigation is known as the longest case in US history, beginning around 1834 and culminating in a ruling in her favor and against the City of New Orleans in 1889.