Settlement in DVD Class Action Reached

[Ken S]

A class-action settlement against DirecTV settled in St. Clair County Circuit Court will award customers with two free DVD players.

The Lakin Law Firm represented an estimated 15,000 customers who signed long-term commitments in order to redeem portable DVD players as part of a marketing offer with the satellite television provider. They never received them.

Under the settlement approved Tuesday, subscribers who submitted redemption forms will receive free portable DVD players, as well as traditional stationary DVD players.

Here's the whole story... http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/399347.html

It appears in this case the plaintiffs are going to receive a reasonable settlement including something extra for their trouble. The law firm will receive $200,000 for fees and expenses and maybe DirecTV will live up to its promotions going forward.

Here's the earlier thread on the case... http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=124792&highlight=class+action+dvd

[say-what]

So instead of one crummy portable DVD player, you'll get two crummy DVD players (one to hate on the road and one to hate at home) :D

[reggie]

So instead of one crummy portable DVD player, you'll get two crummy DVD players
That should help keep the landfills full.

[CJTE]

The DVD players were handled by an outside party... So, although 97% of the plantiffs beleive its DirecTVs fault, DirecTV didnt lose this case and isnt responsible for the DVD players.

[hdtvfan0001]

The DVD players were handled by an outside party... So, although 97% of the plantiffs beleive its DirecTVs fault, DirecTV didnt lose this case and isnt responsible for the DVD players.
Lesson learned...pick you partners carefully....(ask any wife)... :D

[Sirshagg]

So instead of one crummy portable DVD player, you'll get two crummy DVD players (one to hate on the road and one to hate at home) :D
!rolling

[Ken S]

The DVD players were handled by an outside party... So, although 97% of the plantiffs beleive its DirecTVs fault, DirecTV didnt lose this case and isnt responsible for the DVD players.

There was a settlement. The Defendant in the case WAS DirecTV so I really have no idea of what you're saying. Now, whether DirecTV was indemnified is another matter...but DirecTV made the offer, didn't fulfill and was sued.

The end result is basically what should have happened without the lawsuit and it was DirecTV's responsibility to have made sure that happened.

[raott]

The DVD players were handled by an outside party... So, although 97% of the plantiffs beleive its DirecTVs fault, DirecTV didnt lose this case and isnt responsible for the DVD players.

huh??? If D* contracted with an outside vendor to supply the DVDs, it is absolutely D*'s fault. Customers were in privity with D*, not a third party. Basic contract law. Reread:

A class-action settlement against DirecTV settled in St. Clair County Circuit Court will award customers with two free DVD players.


DirecTV also paid for claims notice, claims administrative costs, attorneys' fees and legal costs. The Lakin firm will receive $200,000 for handling the case.

[hdtvfan0001]

So instead of one crummy portable DVD player, you'll get two crummy DVD players (one to hate on the road and one to hate at home) :D
!rolling
That was a pretty good one.... :lol:

[Carl Spock]

The law firm will receive $200,000 for fees and expenses
If there had been real justice, the plantiff's lawyers would have received 10,000 crappy portable DVD players.

[Drew2k]

If there had been real justice, the plantiff's lawyers would have received 10,000 crappy portable DVD players.Why? Were the lawyers promised DVD players if they advocated for the class?! :p

[hdtvfan0001]

Why? Were the lawyers promised DVD players if they advocated for the class?! :p
A clear conflict of interest. :D

[man_rob]

It's sad that it took a lawsuit to get DirecTV to do the right thing. For those upset by what the lawyers got in this case: If DirecTV had honored their promotion, they wouldn't had gotten anything.

[Carl Spock]

Others may be upset about what the lawyers made. Not me. I was only going for a joke.

man rob had it exactly right. If DirecTV had done the right thing in the first place, there would be no problem.

[tcusta00]

I think the lawyer's fee in this case actually seems very reasonable... not like these cases where lawyers are paid tens of millions of dollars.

[kw2957]

This is funny to me because when we signed up for DirecTV three years ago, part of the promotion was a free DVD player. After weeks of waiting, I never received it. I knew the thing was probably a piece of junk, but I still wanted it because I was promised it. Low and behold, after much hassle with a CSR, she mailed me a form to fill out and about six weeks later, the DVD player was at my doorstep.

Do I ever use it? No. But I felt that DirecTV needed to live up to its promotion. Anyway, after 3 years I am beyond satisfied with my service and am now watching TV as much as I can as we just had an HR21 installed.