Another firm, this one in Coral Gables, Fla., had the audacity to file a suit that named a secretary at the firm as its plaintiff. In the suits against Microsoft, the lack of real consumers claiming harm isn't the only hurdle facing rapacious trial attorneys. The suits themselves run counter to prevailing public opinion. Among computer users, that figure was even higher, with 78 percent viewing the company favorably. In addition, the trial lawyers are jumping the gun.
Any filings based on the findings of fact are ridiculously premature.
Civil suits are usually based on conclusions of law in anti-trust cases. If Microsoft settles the case before that stage of the lawsuit, the findings have no legal relevance. The automobile manufacturer hit the nail right on the head. Class action attorneys know that companies, eager to avoid negative publicity, will often agree to settle even the most frivolous lawsuits.