A massive class action settlement against Facebook, property of Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, with a settlement fund of $725 million, received final approval in court last year, but appeals and legal proceedings have delayed sending the payments. After months of waiting, there is an update in which they express that we will have to keep waiting even longer.
Opponents of the deal have made two additional appeals to the final class action settlement, which was approved by a San Francisco judge in October last year. According to Angeion, the company managing the agreement, it seems that the appeals will not even have a hearing date “until the first half of 2025 or later”, “The deadline for resolving an appeal can vary widely, and we will know more as the appeals progress”, is seen in the update of the agreement.
The Dates for the Facebook Class Action Settlement
Even once the date of the hearing is set, that is only the next step. The judge will have to determine if the appeal has merit, if more evidence or documentation should be provided, or if other procedures are necessary, all of which would delay the deadline for issuing the settlement payments.
Payments will be sent to eligible recipients once all appeals are settled, Angeion said. Basically, everyone who had a Facebook account between 2007 and 2022 qualified, but the submission deadline has already passed.
The claims of at least 17 million people have already been validated, which means that they will receive a payment when the legal situation calms down.
Different Amounts for the Plaintiffs
Not everyone is going to get the same amount of payment, because the longer you’ve had a Facebook account, the more money you can receive. However, do not expect that you will be given a life-changing sum of money; the plaintiffs’ lawyers have estimated that the approximate check will be about $30.
Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has agreed to pay $725 million to settle allegations that it violated users’ privacy by sharing their data with third parties. Although Meta accepted the agreement, he denies any wrongdoing.
What Is a Class Action Lawsuit, and How Does One Gets to a Settlement?
Class actions give groups of people, or “classes,” a way to come together in court. These lawsuits can be filed by one or more people arguing that a company or entity has harmed a sizable group of people.
When a lawsuit becomes a class action, it is extended to all “class members” or people who may have complaints that resemble those of those who filed the lawsuit.
A-companies regularly settle class action lawsuits by offering a payment to the group members, who usually waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting the amount offered by the entity or company.
These payment agreements usually have statements from the defendant in which he denies having committed the crime for which he is being sued, companies regularly reach agreements in class actions to get rid of the costs of subsequent litigation.
Pollution, discrimination or misleading advertising are some of the reasons that can lead to a class action lawsuit against a company.
