The defense bar generally contends that lower pleading standards will allow more frivolous lawsuits and extorted settlements that primarily benefit plaintiff lawyers, not shareholders.

Plaintiff lawyers advocate less demanding standards, as such standards would result in a larger number of cases to proceed to discovery and higher amounts of settlements.

Although the software giant had received only $27,000 in claims from irate consumers, it agreed to a settlement in which the plaintiffs lawyers themselves would collect $1 million.