FAQs

No. You do not pay anything out of pocket. We only get paid if we win or settle your case. Our fee comes from a successful result, not from you.

US residents who are not US citizens may be eligible to participate, subject to case-specific requirements.

If you are not fluent in English but are still interested in the role of class representative, we can accommodate your needs. If necessary, we can provide a translator at no cost to you.

You don't need to know. Tell us what happened, and we'll investigate to see if we can take your case. Please fill out our contact form or email us at info@janove.law with the details of your experience. If we believe you might have a case, you’ll hear from us.

A class action is when one or a few individuals sue a company and seek to represent all the others who have also been harmed by that company.

When companies break laws in ways that hurt consumers, it can feel like there's no way to fight back. Or maybe it feels like it’s not worth your time to try to stand up to a big company. But by combining forces through a class action, one consumer can stand up for the rights of tens of thousands. And they can win, forcing companies to change their behavior or pay damages, or both.

It is hard to predict. It usually takes at least a year, even if a case settles quickly. Many class actions take years to resolve.

Class representatives are individuals who sue a company on behalf of everyone else who has been harmed by that company’s behavior. Also known as “lead plaintiffs” or “named plaintiffs,” class representatives are named in the lawsuit and work closely with their attorneys to pursue the case.

The class representative serves the interests of everyone who has been similarly affected by a company’s harmful behavior. If you become the class representative:

• your name will appear in the court filings
• you may have to submit evidence or swear to certain facts
• you will need to review documents in this case and actively confer with your attorneys
• you will need to preserve all relevant evidence related to your case
• you may have your deposition taken
• you may need to attend court hearings and trial

The class is the group of people who have been harmed by a company in a similar way, all of whom are covered by the lawsuit. A “class definition” describes the criteria for eligibility as a class member, and it is usually based on things like whether you used a particular product or service, made a purchase, or had an account with a given company during a specific time period.

If a class action successfully settles or reaches a judgment, class members who qualify may be entitled to some kind of payment. But every case is different, and not all result in financial recovery. We cannot promise any particular outcome.

If you want to receive money as a class member, you do not need to take any action until the end of the case. As long as you fit the class definition and the class is certified, you are generally treated as a class member automatically. You can simply wait for the notice that explains your rights if the case settles or reaches a judgment.

If you would like to take a more active role or start a case, there are a few options.

1. You can contact our firm to ask about serving as a class representative for a case we are investigating.
2. You can contact our firm to tell us about your experience with a company, and we will investigate to see whether we can represent you in a class action.

To contact the firm, you can fill out our contact form or email us at info@janove.law.

Consumer arbitration is a way to raise a legal claim with a company without going to court. Arbitration is a private process where a neutral person, called an arbitrator, hears both sides and makes a decision. Many companies make you agree to arbitrate your claims against them and forbid you from filing a class action in court. You do this by accepting the terms and conditions when you use a website, app, or service. Because of these agreements, arbitration is often required, and when it is, this is the process we must use to bring your claim. Our goal is to make the most of that system and protect your rights.

Mass arbitration is when many people file separate arbitration claims at the same time against the same company. It’s about strength in numbers. Each person still has their own claim, but coordinating the correspondence and filing helps move the process more quickly and efficiently. And it gives everyone access to a legal team that has more information about the situation, putting the consumers in a better position to succeed.

In a class action, one or a few people file a single lawsuit in court on behalf of everyone who was harmed by a company in the same way. One case covers the whole group.

In a mass arbitration, many people bring their own separate claims against the same company at the same time. Instead of going to court, the claims go to arbitration. Arbitration is a private process where a neutral person, called an arbitrator, hears both sides and makes a decision. Many companies require arbitration in their terms of service.

Often the answer is no. If you agreed to arbitration, you may not be able to bring or join a class action. That means your claim must be handled through arbitration and arbitration only, not as part of a lawsuit. But it depends on the terms you agreed to and the dispute you have.

It is hard to predict. We often try to negotiate a resolution with a company before filing claims in arbitration. Some claims might settle quickly without needing to be filed at all. Other times, the process takes months or years.

If you win, the arbitrator can order the company to pay you or fix the problem you are having with them. The company must follow the decision. If you lose, the decision is usually final, and you typically can’t appeal it.