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Avoiding the Danegeld: Discouraging Me-Too Claims Following a Settlement

 

Million dollar settlements of harassment and discrimination cases are often followed up with brand new “me too” type-lawsuits alleging similar claims.

Indeed, the news recently has been replete with such stories. Obviously, the merit of each claim stands on its own and we don’t know enough about the details of these cases to judge their merit. A thousand years ago, Viking warriors would invade a town and threaten to destroy it if the townsfolk did not pay a tax called a Danegeld. It stands to reason that widely publicized settlements and payouts will incentivize others to jump on the bandwagon so they can seek their own payday – in short, a modern day twist on the Danegeld.