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Talk of the Bay

Rebate voucher amounts small, but waits long

By DAVE GUSSOW
Published August 7, 2006

Divvying up $202-million takes time.

Consumers and businesses waiting for rebate vouchers in the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft in Florida will have to wait for their payoff.

A judge in Miami approved the settlement more than three years ago. Appeals were completed about five months ago. Now the claims administrators and attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit are verifying claims filed by businesses.

"I would rather maximize the number of claims that are accepted and have that take an extra few weeks than just accept what the claims administrator has done," said David Stellings of New York, one in an army of lawyers working on the case.

The vouchers are good for $5 to $12 each, depending on the Microsoft product bought between 1995 and 2002. They can be redeemed for technology purchases, not just Microsoft products. Florida schools will receive half of the unclaimed portion of the rebates. (For information, visit www.microsoftproductssettlement.com/florida/home.htm)

The sticking point for business claims is determining what percentage of their licenses were used in Florida, Stellings said. For consumers, it was easier.

"We gave them the benefit of the doubt if there was any question about the validity of the claims," Stellings said. "Except where there was blatant fraud, the same person submitting multiple claims."

[Last modified August 7, 2006, 06:06:10]