Further to my last post, this article describes a class action on behalf of hemophiliacs who where negligently given HIV-tainted blood, demonstrating the importance of class actions. Click . Each class member received $100,000; the payment to the attorneys representing them amounted to only 6% of the total benefit to the class. Even with the substantial individual damages, given the costs of scientific expert testimony, etc., the claims could not effectively been brought on an individual basis.