San Diego Regional Director Lorie Zapf's opinion-editorial on class action coupons was published today on the online site, San Diego News Room. In the piece, she writes:

At some point, we've all gotten one in the mail-- a notice of our inclusion in a class action lawsuit, details of which are laid out in the fine print. To join the lawsuit (and the presumed award), we are asked to do nothing. To opt out (and get nothing), we must fill out and mail in paperwork.

If this sounds backwards, it is because these mailings are handled by plaintiffs' attorneys. The more plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit, the more money the attorneys get. Plaintiffs' attorneys are counting on people to do what the vast majority of us do-- set the letter aside and forget about it, or simply throw it away.

By doing nothing, you've allowed yourself to be used in a lawsuit for a product or service you may not have ever purchased and from which you most likely never suffered any damages.  By not opting out, you are adding to the law firm's total award.