You might be entitled to some money from a class action lawsuit. However, it’s not always easy to find out if that’s the case. To help you understand — and claim what may be due to you — Éducaloi looks back at the class actions which had significant developments in 2024 and some to watch in the future.
A class action makes it possible for one person to seek justice for dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people experiencing a similar problem. These people are called “members” of the class action. If the class action is successful, its members can receive a sum of money or other compensation without having to go to court individually.
A class action can take many years. If you are involved in one, it’s a good idea to check its progress regularly to stay on top of the following steps and deadlines.
You may soon be able to claim money in two class actions!
The deadline for claiming two class actions is fast approaching. Stay informed and claim on time!
Disability pension for veterans
This class action compensates people who suffered a miscalculation in their veteran’s disability pensions, as well as their loved ones and estates, if applicable. The government reached an agreement with the class action members in the spring of 2024. The government committed $165 million to compensate more than 330,000 members.
If you think you’re a member of this class action, you must make your claim before March 19, 2025.
Make your claim or stay informed by consulting the Miscalculation of Disability Pensions Class Action website.
Personal Data Leak at Desjardins
You may be among the 9.7 million people affected by the Desjardins data leak. If so, you could benefit from a class action. You could receive part of more than $200 million that Desjardins has agreed to pay to compensate members for lost time and for identity theft caused by the leak.
Perhaps you are one of the members who has received compensation or who has already made a claim. If not, it’s not too late! Be sure to claim before October 20, 2025. Desjardins may send you a cheque in January 2025 or 2026.
Make your claim or stay informed by consulting the Desjardins Settlement website.
Public interest class actions to be aware of
Public interest class actions concern issues that affect both an individual’s well-being and that of society as a whole. These class actions protect your most intimate and important rights, such as your right to life, health, and equality. In 2024, several public interest class actions moved forward. Are you covered by any of them?
COVID-19 outbreaks in certain CHSLDs
Since January 2024, a new class action has been seeking compensation for people who consider themselves victims of negligent management in certain residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs) during the first two waves of COVID-19. The CHSLDs targeted are those where there was a virus outbreak affecting at least 25% of residents. If the class action is successful, the Quebec government will have to compensate two groups of people:
- people who resided in the CHSLDs in question during the first two waves of COVID-19, and
- the loved ones or heirs of such residents, if deceased.
Class action members could receive compensation of up to several thousand dollars, depending on their status and the damage suffered.
Stay informed by consulting the website of lawyers for the class action.
The end of the closed work permits program?
In September 2024, the Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers asked a court to terminate the federal closed work permit program and compensate those holding such permits.
The court will have to decide whether this program promotes psychological violence toward, and harassment of, workers. If the court rules that the program is illegal, the government will have to terminate it and compensate the work permit holders.
Did you know? A person holding a closed work permit can only work for a single employer or group of employers in Canada. Migrant domestic and farm workers are the main holders of these permits.
Tobacco-related diseases
This class action, which began about 20 years ago, seeks to compensate smokers and ex-smokers who developed smoking-related diseases due to the fault of three tobacco companies.
After years of negotiation, the tobacco companies and the law firm representing the members of the class reached a settlement. Despite this breakthrough, members will have to continue waiting. The agreement will have to be approved by the court. If the agreement is approved, the tobacco companies will distribute $32.5 billion among the members, their estates, and the government.
Stay informed by consulting the tobacco class actions website.
Class actions concerning everyday issues
Many class actions concern everyday issues, such as pension applications, cell phone contracts, and online food orders. The following such class actions advanced in 2024. Do any of them concern you?
Reduction of retirement pensions for managers in the public sector
If you are a beneficiary of the pension plan for managers in the public sector (RRPE), you may have received less money than you were entitled to. You may be eligible for compensation through a class action. Total losses are currently estimated at $400 million.
In September 2024, Retraite Québec (retirement Quebec) sent a notice to the thousands of people who could be members of the class action. If you received this notice, you may be a member.
If the class action is successful, each member who submits a claim in due course could receive compensation of $1,500.
Stay informed by consulting the RRPE website.
Uber Eats hidden delivery or service fees
Consumers who were charged hidden delivery or service fees by Uber Eats could receive compensation through two class actions.
In September 2024, Uber Eats and the members reached an agreement for two class actions. On December 9, 2024, the parties will present this agreement to a court for approval. If the court approves the agreement, thousands of members could each receive a refund of the hidden fees they were charged, along with a $100 coupon for Uber Eats.
Stay informed by consulting the websites of the lawyers for the class actions: (delivery fees) (service fees)
Abusive fees for unlocking cell phones
Has your cell phone service provider charged you to unlock your phone? By law, this service should be free. Since February 2024, a class action has been seeking compensation for people charged these illegal fees between August 14, 2014, and December 1, 2017.
If this class action is successful, members will receive a refund of the unlocking fee plus $25.
Learn more by consulting the website of the lawyers for the class action.
Where can you find information about a class action?
To find out if you are covered by a class action, or for information about its progress, you can consult:
- the Registry of Class Actions of the Superior Court of Québec
- the Class Action Database of the Canadian Bar Association, for class actions in other Canadian provinces
- the law firm representing the members of a class action, by phone or via their website
- the website of the class action in question, if it has one