Judge Considers Google Settlement

A lawsuit that has garnered worldwide attention is in the spotlight again. A judge in Texarkana has scheduled a hearing Monday to consider a multi-million dollar settlement between Google and its advertisers. The judge handling this case has given preliminary approval to a 90 million dollar settlement. This case began last year, when the owners of Lane`s Gifts and Collectables in Texarkana filed a lawsuit. The suit claims that Google charged them for each click by a potential customer on their website. However, Google advertisers say those who were clicking on their websites were scam artists and swindlers, who repeatedly clicked on their link without a legitimate interest in its products. The advertisers claim they were vicitms of "click fraud". Judge Joe Griffin has given preliminary approval to a 90 million dollar settlement. Under this $90 million settlement, a third of the money will be awarded to lawyers. Thousands of advertisers worldwide will have a $60 million fund against which they can file a claim. No one will receive cash. Instead, the advertisers will receive advertising credits for future use with Google. Lawyers representing advertisers say this case has already shed some light on problems plaguing the Internet. Lawyer Eric Wewers said "This allows advertisers some security and sense of comfort that charges that they`re paying when someone clicks on their website are actual clicks from interested customers as opposed from a competitor running up a fee." Judge Griffin heard from nearly 50 objections from plaintiffs, who voiced their dissatisfaction with the settlement saying Google still hasn`t done enough to fix the problem. Judge Griffin is expected to make a final ruling Tuesday.