Almost three bucks!

Seriously though, there is another way to look at these class action suits. Although you got virtually nothing, there are probably thousands of others who did too, and, as you pointed out, attorney's fees. Without a government willing to enforce consumer protections, these lawsuits can serve the same purpose, to go after rip-off's that are not worth the individual's time to pursue. It serves as an incentive for these big companies to better deal with their consumers on the up and up. Do the attorneys get too much money? Probably so, but somehow we have to police the otherwise too-big-to-sue companies.

A 45 record of "Tennessee Waltz" by Patty Page.

Or 6 boxes of Tide.

Is the entire point of class action. Without a mechanism to make companies stop violating the law in ways that no one would bother to enforce because of the disproportionate cost, companies will continue to rip off consumers.

By aggregating thousands of small claims, the math changed. Even though you are getting a very small amount of money, Staples has to pay the total, plus attorney fees. That provides significant deterrence for the behavior that gave rise to the suit.

that these suits actually affect corporate behavior. It's kind of a crapshoot if and when a company gets hit.

And they rarely take on companies with tough cases to prove, or really deep pockets. Watch and see if any of those ash pits owners are sued.

for people who had been harmed, but not enough to justify a lawsuit.

That's where the Republicans seem to be taking us.

tried to take care of these things.

And usually did a better job of it.