If a settlement in a class action is reached in the US should i be able to recicve compensation if i used ....

Question

If a settlement in a class action is reached in the US should i be able to recicve compensation if i used the product that is the centre of this class action even though i live in Australia? If i lived in AMerica i know i would be able to recicve compensation. The product was brought over ebay international and shiped in the US

Answer 1

You would probably need to talk to a lawyer that is certified or has experience with international law/cases. International cases are kind of complicated.

Answer 2

You need to know whether the class was certified as an "opt-in" or an "opt-out." Most class actions are the "opt-out" type, meaning that if you don't opt out, you are automatically part of the class. If that's the case, you're in luck; you should be able to receive compensation. If it's an opt-in, you needed to notify the parties that you exercise your option at a set date in the settlement timeline.



The fact that you live in Austrailia shouldn't affect that; since the product was shipped from the US, you would have standing to bring a suit in the US as a plaintiff, therefore you can join a class of plaintiffs.



If the lawsuit was brought in federal court, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23 will apply; see if you can look that up on LexisNexis or a similar service to learn more about class actions.



Disclaimer: I'm only a first year law student, but I answered the best I knew how with knowledge from my civil procedure class.

Answer 3

I don't see why not.