How to Locate a Settlement Lawsuit Fund
Settlement lawsuit funds exist throughout the United States. A settlement fund refers to money that stems from a litigation case. Most settlements have deadlines and require recipients to sign waivers that release the defendant (party that is paying money) from future liability. For example, the Polybutylene Pipe Settlement Fund stopped accepting new claims on May 1, 2009 and the claims administration office actually shut down on December 31, 2009. It is very difficult to get your settlement money after the claims deadline has expired.
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Instructions
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Determine if litigation has begun by contacting the defendant's headquarters or corporate office. You also could search federal court databases to see if there is a lawsuit listed for the defendant's headquarters or primary place of business. For example, a European company would probably be sued in the state where the company maintains a U.S. office. If no lawsuit has been filed, consult with attorneys who handle plaintiff work.
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Search online for relevant news posted by media organizations about the companies. Since most settlement lawsuit funds result from class action cases that have several plaintiffs, an informational website or toll-free phone number usually exists.
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Assess your case to ensure that you qualify for relief. The law firms that are representing the plaintiffs will ask many questions. For example, if the case involves a controversial over-the-counter drug, you likely will be asked about your intake--whether daily, weekly, or just occasionally.
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File a claim with the plaintiffs' law firm(s) or the settlement distributors. Avoid requesting a lawsuit loan or cash advance, as they charges high interest rates similar to a vehicle title loan or paycheck cash advance.
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Review the predetermined damages award carefully before signing anything. Most plaintiffs cannot individually negotiate higher awards. For instance, the Pigford case allows black farmers to receive $50,000 each if they suffered racial bias by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But farmers can file claims for actual or real damages to receive an extra award of up to $250,000.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep a record of all of your work. Write down the names of the people you discussed your case with and the date you spoke with them.
It is best to file a claim before the final settlement has been reached. Do not delay in filing claims; the fund money might run out or the company might become bankrupt.
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Resources
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