Georgia Natural Gas Southstar Energy Bad Class Action Settlement - Only the lawyers win! Atlanta, Georgia

These lawyers don't post anything online so you can tell what has happened. They were supposed to report last week how many claims have been filed...BUT it looks like they are afraid to post that report online so everyone can see...I wonder why?

Come on lawyers,don't be chicken. Post your report on the website so we can see how much GNG will have to pay before hearing Friday.  

The class needs some new lawyers who will make GNG refund the money without filing bad claim forms. And maybe the new lawyers will disclose how much the damages really are to the class before agreeing to a settlement that screws the consumer!


Be there Friday at 9:30 everybody, especially you Myra.  Judge s****.>

good for you Myra...file an objection and tell the judge to give them them 10% of what the class members actually claim!...that is fair...

I am going to object...really tired of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer!

What am I going to do?

I am going to file my claim form and an objection unless all of the settlement fund is claimed by the class members.

The website gives no explanation about how much the damages actually are. And there is no reason why the funds could not be "Pushed back"to the class members without filing claim forms. And why is there no provision to give unclaimed funds to a worthy cause like legal aid?

And why does the claim period end 7 days before the final hearing without a final report on participation?   ...This has a strong odor.....sorry....Robert.

It's not too late for you.  You have time to choose one of three options before the final approval hearing on April 6, 2012:

1.  You may OPT-OUT of the class action.  Then you are free to hire your own attorney and file your own lawsuit for damages.  Your opt-out mailing must be postmarked NLT March 15, 2012.

2.  You may file an objection to the proposed settlement (if you do not opt-out.)  Your objection must be postmarked NLT March 15, 2012.  You may also attend the final approval hearing on April 6, 2012 to voice your objection in open court.

3.  You may file a claim (for proposed settlement payment) NLT March 30,2012 to receive your portion of the proposed settlement.

The forms needed to act on any of these options are available for download on the settlement site.

NOTE to you and other class action advocates:  It is the lead plaintiffs that make out in any successful class action lawsuit.  In this particular matter, the 2 plaintiffs will receive "incentive pay" (from the settlement fund) of $10,000 for their time and expense in bringing the complaint.  This is outlined in paragraph 4.5 of the proposed settlement.

This is how it always works with a class action.  The lead plaintiffs get a reasonable settlement for bringing the lawsuit while the CLASS MEMBERS (who do NOTHING) receive a pittance for their trouble.

If you don't like it, I suggest you consult with an attorney to determine if you should OPT-OUT of this action, hire an attorney, and bring your own action against the gas company.

If you do NOTHING, you will not receive a payment under the proposed settlement and you will most likely loose any rights to bring your own action against them.  In other words, do nothing-get nothing.

Choose what you're going to do.

I laugh every time some jerk on this site says he wants to start a class action lawsuit.  The one described here is typical.  The lawyers collect millions and the plaintiffs are lucky if they get a coupon for half off their next purchase of a Diet Coke.

Class actions are the greatest thing ever for large companies that spit in the public's face.  A class action allows the defendant to permanently and forever settle thousands of possible lawsuits for a couple bucks each.

My personal favorite class action lawsuit was one brought against Ford Motor Co alleging that resale value of used Ford Explorers had plummeted after news stories about rollover accidents.  The settlement: each plaintiff received a coupon for $400 off the price of a new Ford product.

First of all it appears as if you are unaware of how this site posts.  It is not a good idea to post a comment that basically agrees with yourself trying to be another person.  It is very obvious and actually takes away from your post. 

As to your other comments.

And they want to multiply that by 4!!!  That is unheard of these days in class actions. 
- Actually it is the exact opposite..it is not only not "unheard of", 3 Million seems to be on the lower end of the lawyers fees.

No way the judge will ever approve this nonsense!! it violates due process!
- As explained from earlier people what you are seeing is STANDARD and the chances of this settlement being rejected is about zero.

These lawyers are real con   artists....they did not even devise a plan to notice class members who are no longer customers of Ga. Natural gas.....No way the judge will ever approve this nonsense!! it violates due process!

I agree with fed up!

And get this ....the lawyers put in less than $800,000.00 in billable time and that is at grossly inflated hourly rates that are above what the firms probably charge their regular clients!......And they want to multiply that by 4!!!  That is unheard of these days in class actions.  The judge should only award fees based on the amount of claims filed and paid !!!!!  The lawyers only spent a few thousand dollars on this case. They must think they won the lottery?

" Sounds like collusion.....the lawyers will walk away with $3,335,000 while only consumers who apply get a few dollars. "

  Collusion???   No, it sounds like every class action settlement I've ever heard of.   Class actions primarily benefit lawyers.  They wont even initiate a class action unless they think they can get millions.  While the lawyers get the cash, the class members are more than likely to get nothing more than a discount coupon from the company that ripped them off (i.e. they have to spend more money with the defendant).   In the event of a cash settlement, never expect more than a few bucks.

  That's what always cracks me up about people who come on this site screaming "class action!", as if it were going to right their wrong.   They don't have a clue what they're asking.

The "class" members get a coupon for a small popcorn and the attorneys ALWAYS end up with the real money.
They welcome the class actions for this very reason.