There is only so much money to go around and those lawsuits have millions of people as a rule. Well, thousands at least anyway.
It probably generates publicity for the firm more than anything else. And it also helps to assist in bankrupting the company that they are pitted against.
Very true. Last year I got checks from two different class actions, one for $7 and change, the other was a little over $60. I got a notice in the mail for both that I was eligible for a claim, one I didn't even remember getting the calls from. I filled out the paper work just for sh*ts and giggles....ended up getting a little bit of money. :)