What is the most famous class action suit?

Asked by: Nola Bradtke  |  Last update: August 29, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (74 votes)

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.

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 largest direct action lawsuit in US history?

1) Big Tobacco: $206 Billion (1998)

The agreement, which remains the largest class-action settlement in U.S. history, required tobacco companies to pay out more than $206 billion to the included states over 25 years, plus another $9 billion per year in perpetuity.

What was the largest individual settlement in the US history?

The Largest Settlements and Verdicts in U.S. History, and Why...
  • Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion. ...
  • BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill — $20 Billion. ...
  • Volkswagen Emissions Scandal — $14.7 Billion. ...
  • General Motors Auto Defect Case — $4.9 Billion. ...
  • Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Case — $4.69 Billion.

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.

The Basics of Class Action Lawsuits

25 related questions found

Who got sued for the most money?

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.

What is the most expensive successful lawsuit?

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 punitive damages ever awarded?

5 of the Largest Personal Injury Verdicts Ever
  • $150 Billion in Burning Case. ...
  • $145 Billion in Landmark Tobacco Case. ...
  • $28 Billion for Los Angeles Smoker. ...
  • $4.9 Billion in Auto Defect Case. ...
  • $2.2 Billion in Diluted Cancer Drug Case.

Where is the oldest permanent settlement in the United States?

Augustine, Florida, established by the Spanish in 1565. Today, St. Augustine survives as the nation's oldest continuously occupied city, and is now gearing up for its 450th birthday bash.

What is the most famous settlement?

Co-founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Starr in 1889, The Hull House in Chicago quickly becomes most famous settlement house in U.S. and serves as a model for over 400 other settlements across the country.

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.

Which state has the most frivolous lawsuits?

Washington, DC, Dec. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The most litigious locales in the nation earned the title of “Judicial Hellhole®,” according to the latest report by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). California regained its position at the top as the worst Judicial Hellhole®.

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%.”

Can you get a lot of money from a class action lawsuit?

In some cases, plaintiffs in a class action case may receive thousands of dollars each. More commonly, though, these awards come in the form of much smaller payouts.

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.

Who are the oldest families in America?

Jamestown's Oldest Family Names
  • The Brewster Family. ...
  • The Standish Family. ...
  • The Alden Family. ...
  • The Fuller Family. ...
  • The Allerton Family. ...
  • The Soule Family. ...
  • The Nelson Family. ...
  • The Sherman Family. The Sherman family name can be traced back to William Sherman, who lived in Plymouth from 1630 to 1634.

What is the second oldest city in the United States?

Jamestown, Virginia (1607)

The city of Jamestown is the second-oldest city in the U.S. and the site of the first permanent English colony in North America. It was founded on April 26, 1607, and briefly called James Fort after the English king.

What are the most frequently awarded damages?

An award of compensatory damages is the most common of the legal remedies for breach of contract. The calculation of compensatory damages is based on the actual losses you have sustained as a result of the breach of contract. They typically fall into two categories: expectation damages and consequential damages.

What is the most expensive court case in US 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.

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.

What is the dumbest lawsuit award?

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

What is the most ridiculous lawsuit?

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 industry has the most lawsuits?

The industries with the highest average number of proceedings were health care, manufacturing and energy. On average, in the last year, US companies filed two-and-a- half times the number of lawsuits that UK companies did.