In the electrifying words of the attorneys, “Even if this outcome were the fruits of a grueling trial, it would be a victory. However, considering the monumental risks, costs, and delays tied to battling the federal judiciary, this is nothing short of a spectacular achievement.”
PACER Overcharge Case: Backdrop of the Battle
Taking a trip down memory lane, last October saw the U.S. government conceding to pay $125 million. This was to quash a lawsuit spearheaded by the National Veterans Legal Services Program, National Consumer Law Center, and the Alliance for Justice. Their contention? The public was being excessively charged for PACER fees, breaching the E-Government Act of 2002. PACER, standing as a sentinel of transparency, provides the public with federal court records.
Though the court has given an initial nod of approval to the settlement, and class members are in the loop, the deal’s fate now dangles, awaiting a fairness hearing and the court’s final stamp of approval.
The Controversy Continues
While consensus has largely been achieved, a lone class member has raised the flag of dissent. The bone of contention? The distribution formula which allegedly puts “larger and smaller claimants” on different playing fields.
