[S. California] A class action lawsuit was just filed with a retail chain I worked for about a year ago. My manager texts me saying asking if I can come in, sign something, and be given a $100 check for not joining the class action. What are my options here?

I met a guy on a bus stop who started telling me about how, out of nowhere, he got a check in the mail for a few thousand dollars. He said it was from a company he used to work at, and that there was a class action lawsuit filed against it, and current & former employees were sent checks in the settlement (a class action over wages, I think).

I'm not sure of the time frame involved, though, or how long it's been since he worked there. That guy told me he had just gotten out of the pen 6 mos earlier, and a few days after his release, he met someone who offered to help him start a car detailing business (he still hasn't learned his lesson, because he said he hired drug addicts because they're cheap labor, lol). He also said he spent 15-20 years behind bars for running drugs between states. I didn't ask him details of how long ago he worked there, and I don't know anything about statue of limitations regarding class actions). All I know is that I got the impression that he's only worked car detailing since he got out of jail.

All I'm saying is that class action lawsuits can possibly last a few years before a settlement, and it can include anyone (former or current employees) going years back as long as you were there when the so-called misdeeds took place.

Personally, unless you're hard up for the money, I wouldn't settle for just $100 (+they might offer more if you reject this offer). I wouldn't bother showing up to entertain the idea of settling. It's possible you'll get more money if you wait. It's also possible that you could end up with $5-10 of the settlement.

/r/legaladvice Thread Parent