Radcliffe & DeHaas, L.L.P.

Class actions have received some negative publicity in the last few years some of it not justified. Class actions, when properly used, are a good method to allow a single person to right a wrong suffered by many. As an example the proper use of a class action can prevent big insurance companies from charging customers 2 different prices for the same insurance , even though the company markets it as different coverages! In such a case, the consumer who is paying the steeper price, usually doesn't know he could get the same coverage for less. The insurance company never tells him. Even if the insured did know, the difference is so minimal (sometimes $8 per year) a lawsuit filed for just one person doesn't make economic sense.

However,if the claim is filed as a class action on behalf of ALL persons who paid more but didn't get more coverage, the lawsuit makes economic sense, requires the insurance company to pay attention- since if affects a number of their customers, and also warrants the court's interest. That is not to say the battle with the big companies doesn't take years, lots of time, and effort; but with the prospect of "righting a wrong" that would never have been done otherwise, it accomplishes the goal,and that originally was the justification for class actions-because society benefits.

So contact Radcliffe and DeHaas if you have a wrong in Pennsylvania that you think needs corrected.