I received this check in the mail for $1.42. I didn’t know who or what it was from other than that I was part of a class action settlement.

I googled “Klussman vs Cross Country Bank” and found it was a California settlement in which some firm named Klussman sued a bank for debt collecter for excessive fees and harassment. This is odd, because in recent years I’ve never received a call from a debt collector much less been harassed by one.

Obviously I haven’t make a beeline to the bank to deposit this miniscule sum, but it got me thinking. The amount of money that’s divided up and distributed is often tiny. When a class action lawsuit is initiated, why not just have the plaintants, or group that’s represented, agree that if the settlement result is under $10 per person, then the money will go to:

1: A lottery. For example instead of a million dollars being split over 600,000 people (resulting in $1.66 per person,) why not everyone agree that 100 people win $10,000? I’d give up my paltry $1.66 for the chance that myself or someone else might win 10k. And much better odds than Powerball.

or 2: A good charity that everyone can agree on. Take the whole mess and split it between the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Certainly a reputable group could benefit from a large cash influx far more than an individual or household could benefit from $2.73. And you can write off your donation.

Agree? I’m on board.