Class Action News

A divided federal appeals court on Wednesday voided a class action settlement between Hewlett-Packard Co and millions of consumers who bought its inkjet printers over nearly a decade, saying the fees awarded to the consumers' lawyers must be recalculated.

The British Government risks importing the worst excesses of the American class actions system if it goes ahead with plans to allow consumers to bring wide-ranging claims against companies, the US Chamber of Commerce has warned.

For years French governments have promised to permit class-action lawsuits. But French businesses hate the idea and besides, who wants to copy the Americans? Now, however, François Hollande and his Socialists may allow such suits, if a bill on consumer rights presented to the Council of Ministers on May 2nd is adopted in anything like its present form.