What is the largest class action lawsuit in history?
Asked by: Sage Swaniawski | Last update: October 10, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (14 votes)
The Biggest Lawsuit Ever: The Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was filed in 1998 against the four largest tobacco companies in the United States and remains the largest lawsuit in history in terms of dollars involved. Defendants included Philip Morris, R. J.
What was the largest settlement in US history?
The largest settlement in US history is the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement at $206 billion, making it not just the largest personal injury settlement but the largest legal settlement overall.
What is the biggest lawsuit ever won by a single person?
Tobacco Awards
However, there have been two awards to individuals that top the list of personal injury amounts. In 2002, a California jury awarded Betsy Bullock $28 billion who began smoking at 17 and developed lung cancer which spread to her liver at the age of 64.
What is the longest running lawsuit in US history?
Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."
Who makes the most money in a class action lawsuit?
The lead class plaintiff or plaintiffs typically receive a more significant share of a class settlement. The reason is that the lead plaintiff does most of the work before, during, and after legal proceedings, playing an active role in hearings, trials, and other court proceedings.
How One Farmer's Fight Became the Largest Class Action Lawsuit in U.S. History | The Pay Check S3E3
What is the largest legal payout in history?
The Biggest Lawsuit Ever: The Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion.
How to get a million dollar settlement?
- Extensive Economic Damages. ...
- Severe Injuries. ...
- Pain and Suffering. ...
- Aggravating Factors. ...
- Ability To Pay. ...
- Document All Damages. ...
- Follow Doctor's Orders. ...
- Stay Off Social Media.
What was the biggest court case ever?
Marbury v. Madison, arguably the most important case in Supreme Court history, was the first U.S. Supreme Court case to apply the principle of "judicial review" -- the power of federal courts to void acts of Congress in conflict with the Constitution.
What are the most litigious states in us?
- California — Often dubbed the lawsuit capital of the U.S., California sees over 1.2 million civil cases annually. ...
- Florida — With its thriving tourism industry and high population density, Florida is another hotbed of legal disputes.
What is the Berhampore case?
The Berhampore case is also mentioned in the National Judicial Data Grid as the oldest one to be heard in any Indian court. The case started after the Calcutta High Court ordered the insolvent Berhampore Bank to wind up operations on November 19, 1948.
What is the highest wrongful death settlement?
The highest wrongful death settlement was $160 million.
What is the largest punitive damage ever awarded?
The court also observed that the $145 billion punitive damages award was a record- breaking amount that was too great to be permitted: This trial produced the largest punitive damage verdict in American legal history.
What is the largest pain and suffering settlement?
The largest personal injury settlement in U.S. history was the landmark 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), where major tobacco companies agreed to pay $206 billion over 25 years to 46 states to compensate for medical costs related to smoking-related illnesses.
What is the oldest permanent settlement in the United States?
Forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish established at St. Augustine this nation's first enduring settlement.
Who paid the largest criminal fine in United States history?
Pfizer promoted the sale of Bextra for several uses and dosages that the FDA specifically declined to approve due to safety concerns. The company will pay a criminal fine of $1.195 billion, the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States for any matter.
What is the highest permanent settlement in the world?
Tucked away in the eastern Andes Mountains, about 5,000 meters (3 miles) above sea level, the town of La Rinconada is the highest permanent settlement in the world. The Peruvian town does not have running water, a sewage system, or garbage disposal.
What is the best state to sue a company?
For example, Vermont was voted the best state in the categories of Discovery, Scientific and technical evidence and Judges' impartiality. Nebraska scored best in the category of Juries' fairness. Respondents were first screened for their familiarity with the litigation environment in a given state.
Have two states ever sued each other?
Pennsylvania v. West Virginia, 262 U.S. 553 (1923). The Court, in Maryland v. Louisiana, 451 U.S. 725 (1981), over dissent, relied on this case in permitting a suit contesting a tax imposed on natural gas, the incidence of which fell on the suing state's consuming citizens.
Which country sues the most?
SPEAK TO AN EXPERT! The United States is often thought to be the most litigious country in the world. It does have the largest number of lawsuits. However, the dubious honor of lawsuits per capita belongs to Germany, with 123.2 lawsuits per 1,000 people.
What was the stupidest court case?
We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry.
What is the most famous trial in history?
- O.J. Simpson Murder Trial. ...
- Sam Sheppard Murder Trial. On the morning of July 4, 1954, Marilyn Sheppard was found on the floor of her bedroom brutally murdered. ...
- Attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
How many court cases has Donald Trump have?
From 1973 until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.
Is it illegal to have a million dollars in cash?
Even though it is technically not illegal to travel with large amounts of cash, it is definitely suspicious to many law enforcement officers. Carrying a large amount of cash can result in asset forfeiture and seizure, even if you are not arrested for an offense. Welcome to the world of asset forfeiture.
What injuries pay the most?
The highest-paying car accident injuries often involve severe conditions like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple fractures. These injuries require extensive medical treatment, leading to substantial medical bills and significant pain and suffering damages.
What to do after winning $1 million dollars?
"One suggestion would be putting your winnings in a brokerage account, as many brokerage firms can spread the cash deposits across multiple banks," according to Azoury. "Within one brokerage account, up to $4 million can be insured, if single, and up to $8 million can be insured on a joint account."