For My Lawyer Friends

It has been announced that more than 20 mobile home manufacturers have agreed to pay $14.8 million to thousands of U.S. hurricane victims who said they were harmed by formaldehyde in the trailers.   Why there would be defect in not one but all twenty manufacturers’ products is beyond me but let’s just say it is true.  No one should be put in harm’s way (even though these victims had no where else to go) and I get that.  I am not sure where the evidence of actual illnesses from the formaldehyde is actually documented but again let’s just say it is there.   Lawyers get at least 25% of the money from the class action lawsuit award.   Many time it is higher and don’t forget about their fees deducted before the money is split up.  For now, however, we will just use the 25% leaving $11.1 million.    So here is the best part that I want my lawyer friends to answer.   The article goes on to say  that the “number of claims could range from 10,000 to 20,000”.  Let’s do the math.  Divide $11.1 million by 20,000 and you get…….$555!!!!   Now, how does that money help anyone?   This could even be a lot less when lawyer fees are removed.  What purpose did this really serve the little person who may have been injured by formaldehyde?   And why doesn’t the article even mention this piddly sum?  Shame on MSNBC.