Slaw spots a possible revolution in class action action -- disgruntled consumers aggregating their grievances through synchonized small claims actions fueled by the Internet, all lawyer-free. Heather Peters, a former lawyer who has let her license lapse, was offered $100 and rebates in a class action settlement concerning Honda Civic hybrid mileage. Instead, she's suing for $10,000 in a California small claims court and is hoping that the internet will spread the word to the half-million-or-so similarly-situated others, and generate pressure on Honda. The Los Angeles Times, which labels the phenomenon a "small-claims flash mob," predicts:
If she's successful in getting others to follow her example, Peters could inspire a whole new litigation strategy in the auto industry and other businesses. Working together but filing lawsuits independently, consumers could force companies to go "mano a mano" with individual plaintiffs in far-flung courtrooms nationwide.
Peters is spreading the word through a website, DontSettleWithHonda.org, and a DontSettleWithHonda Twitter account. And here is Peters' claim.
