In law, a coupon settlement is a resolution between disputing parties about a class action

Class action

In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...

 legal case, reached either before or after court action begins. In a coupon settlement, class members receive coupons or other promises for products or services instead of a cash award. Coupon settlements are recognised in state and federal courts in the United States.

Criticisms of coupon settlements

Coupon settlements have been used as a way for a defendant to forestall major liability by precluding a large number of people from litigating their claims separately, to recover reasonable compensation for the damages. However, existing law requires judicial approval of all coupon settlements, and in most cases class members are given a chance to opt out of class settlement, though class members, despite opt-out notices, may be unaware of their right to opt out because they did not receive the notice, did not read it, or did not understand it.

The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

The U.S. Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. Sections 1332, 1453, and 1711–1715, expanded federal jurisdiction over many large class-action lawsuits and mass actions taken in the United States....

(CAFA) addresses some of these concerns. Coupon Settlements may be audited by an independent expert before judicial approval in order to ensure that the settlement will be of value to the class members (28 U.S.C.A. 1712(d)). Also, if the action provides for settlement in coupons, the attorney must take a corresponding part of his fee in coupons (28 U.S.C.A. 1712(a)).

In the United States, federal courts must hold a hearing and make specific findings that the coupon settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequite and that the class members's interests are represented. The following can be taken into consideration during the hearing:

1. The strength of the class member's case.
2. The risk, expense, complexity, and duration of further litigation.
3. The risk of maintaining class action status.
4. The amount offered to each class member in settlement.
5. The form of the settlement (coupons, checks, replacement products, or services).
6. The amount offered in total in settlement.
7. The extent of the discovery that has been completed.
8. The experience of counsel.
9. The presence of a governmental participant.
10. The reaction of class members to the proposed settlement.

Another criticism has been that plaintiffs' lawyers involved in coupon settlements receive cash fees in amounts that generally dwarf the award recovered by individual class members.

External links

• ‘Class ActionFairness Act of 2005