The Roof Maxx lawsuit has become one of the more talked-about home services legal disputes heading into 2026, with homeowners across the country reporting that the product failed to deliver what it promised. If you paid for Roof Maxx treatment and your shingles deteriorated anyway, you may have a legal claim worth pursuing.
This article breaks down exactly what the lawsuit is about, who qualifies, and what kind of compensation is on the table.
Thousands of homeowners spent between $150 and $600 on Roof Maxx treatments after being told it would extend their roof’s life by years. Many say it did nothing. Some say it made things worse.
Here is everything you need to know for 2026.
What Is the Roof Maxx Lawsuit?
The Roof Maxx lawsuit refers to legal actions brought by homeowners who claim the company’s bio-based roof rejuvenation treatment did not perform as advertised. The core allegation is simple: Roof Maxx sold a product promising to restore aged asphalt shingles and extend roof life, and homeowners say it did not work.
Multiple individual lawsuits and consumer complaints have been filed since the product gained widespread distribution through its franchise network. The legal pressure grew as complaints stacked up with the Better Business Bureau and state consumer protection agencies.
Roof Maxx Technologies LLC, headquartered in Ohio, markets a soy-based oil treatment applied to existing asphalt shingles. The company claims the treatment restores flexibility and adds years of life to an aging roof.
Critics and plaintiffs argue those claims were not supported by real-world results for a significant portion of customers.
| Basic Case Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | Roof Maxx Technologies LLC |
| Headquarters | Ohio, United States |
| Product at Issue | Soy-based asphalt shingle rejuvenation treatment |
| Primary Legal Claims | False advertising, breach of warranty, consumer fraud |
| Who Is Affected | Homeowners who purchased Roof Maxx treatment services |
| Year Active | Complaints escalating through 2025 and into 2026 |
The lawsuits do not target a single dramatic incident. They target a pattern of alleged misrepresentation across thousands of service transactions nationwide.
The Roof Maxx Class Action Lawsuit: 2026 Status Update
As of 2026, legal activity surrounding Roof Maxx has grown from scattered individual complaints into more organized class action filings seeking to represent large groups of affected homeowners. The shift from individual complaints to class action status is significant because it means plaintiffs are arguing that Roof Maxx’s alleged misconduct was systematic, not accidental.
A class action consolidates many individual claims into one proceeding. This matters because most homeowners would not hire a lawyer over a $300 treatment. A class action makes it economically viable to fight a company with far greater legal resources.
Attorneys representing homeowners have argued that Roof Maxx’s marketing, training materials, and sales scripts created a uniform set of misleading statements across its entire franchise network.
| Class Action Stage | What It Means for Homeowners |
|---|---|
| Investigation Phase | Attorneys gathering evidence and claimant records |
| Class Certification Filing | Attorneys asking court to certify a class of plaintiffs |
| Discovery Phase | Both sides exchange documents, data, and expert opinions |
| Settlement Negotiations | Company and plaintiffs discuss resolution before trial |
| Final Settlement Approval | Judge approves deal and sets claim filing period |
If class certification is granted, homeowners who meet eligibility requirements could be included automatically or receive notice to opt in.
Key stat: Class action lawsuits typically settle before trial in roughly 70 percent of cases, often producing payouts ranging from tens of dollars to several hundred dollars per claimant depending on documented harm.
What Is the Roof Maxx Lawsuit Actually About?
The Roof Maxx lawsuit is primarily about misrepresentation. Homeowners allege the company made specific, measurable promises that the product could not keep.
The central claims fall into three categories. First, false advertising related to the treatment’s ability to restore shingle flexibility and extend roof life. Second, breach of implied and express warranty when the product failed to perform as described. Third, deceptive trade practices under state consumer protection laws.
Think of it like buying a car oil treatment that promises to add 30,000 miles to your engine. If it delivers nothing and the seller knew it was unproven, that is the kind of deception at the heart of this lawsuit.
Several plaintiffs allege they purchased Roof Maxx treatment on the explicit advice of a franchised contractor who used company-supplied sales materials. When the roof failed shortly after treatment, they say the company denied responsibility by pointing to factors like age of the roof or weather conditions.
| Alleged Legal Violation | Description |
|---|---|
| False Advertising | Claims about extending roof life by 5 or more years not substantiated |
| Breach of Express Warranty | Written or verbal guarantees not honored |
| Breach of Implied Warranty | Product not fit for its marketed purpose |
| Deceptive Trade Practices | Misleading statements made during the sales process |
| Unjust Enrichment | Company profited from transactions it should not have completed |
Each of these theories carries a different legal standard, which is why class action attorneys are pursuing multiple claims simultaneously.
Key Takeaway: The Roof Maxx lawsuit is built on three legal pillars: false advertising, warranty breach, and deceptive consumer practices, all pointing to the same core claim that the product did not do what the company said it would.
Roof Maxx Lawsuit Settlement Amount: What Homeowners Could Receive
No final settlement has been publicly confirmed as of early 2026, but legal analysts and consumer attorneys working on similar product liability cases offer useful benchmarks. Settlement amounts in consumer product class actions like this one typically range based on the level of documented harm each claimant can show.
Homeowners who simply paid for the treatment and saw no results might recover the cost of the treatment itself. Those who can show consequential damage, like a roof that required early replacement, may qualify for larger compensation.
| Potential Compensation Tier | Typical Range | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Base Treatment Reimbursement | $150 to $600 | Proof of purchase only |
| Extended Damage Tier | $600 to $3,000 | Roof inspection report showing premature failure |
| Full Replacement Cost Tier | $3,000 to $15,000+ | Evidence linking Roof Maxx to accelerated shingle damage |
| Punitive or Additional Damages | Varies | If willful deception is proven |
These figures are based on analogous settlements in consumer product cases. The actual Roof Maxx settlement, if and when reached, will depend on the total number of claimants, the strength of evidence, and court approval.
Do not assume the lowest tier applies to your situation. Gather your records now. The more documentation you have, the stronger your position when tiers are assigned.
Who Qualifies for the Roof Maxx Lawsuit?
You may qualify for the Roof Maxx lawsuit if you are a homeowner who paid for a Roof Maxx treatment and experienced product failure or were misled about what the product would do. Qualification is not limited to people whose roofs catastrophically failed.
Even homeowners who simply feel they received no benefit from a paid treatment may have standing to file or join a claim, depending on how the class is defined by the court.
General qualifications being evaluated in current filings include:
- You hired a Roof Maxx franchised contractor to apply treatment to your roof
- The treatment was applied to asphalt shingles
- The contractor made specific claims about roof life extension during the sales process
- The roof experienced premature failure, cracking, granule loss, or leaking after treatment
- You spent money on roof repairs or replacement within a reasonable period after treatment
| Qualifier | Details |
|---|---|
| Purchase Timeframe | Treatments purchased from 2018 onward are generally within the statute of limitations |
| Property Type | Primarily single-family residential homes with asphalt shingle roofs |
| Geographic Scope | Homeowners across all states where Roof Maxx operates |
| Documented Contact | Sales receipts, service records, or contractor communications |
If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, keep every piece of paper and documentation related to the treatment. Eligibility determinations are made by attorneys reviewing case-specific facts.
Roof Maxx Lawsuit Eligibility Requirements Explained
Eligibility for the Roof Maxx lawsuit requires meeting both factual and legal thresholds. On the factual side, you need to show that a transaction occurred and that the product did not perform. On the legal side, your claim needs to fall within the statute of limitations.
Most state consumer protection statutes allow claims to be filed within two to four years of the date the harm was discovered. This is called the “discovery rule.” It means if your roof failed in 2024 and you only connected it to the Roof Maxx treatment in 2025, your clock may have started in 2025.
This matters because some homeowners got treatment in 2019 or 2020 and only realized the connection years later.
Required documentation to establish eligibility:
- Original invoice or receipt from the Roof Maxx contractor
- Any warranty paperwork received at time of service
- Photos of roof condition before and after treatment (if available)
- Contractor communications: texts, emails, or written estimates
- Any subsequent roof inspection reports from independent contractors
- Records of repair costs or replacement costs following treatment
| Statute of Limitations by Claim Type | Typical Window |
|---|---|
| Consumer Protection Act Violations | 2 to 4 years from discovery |
| Breach of Express Warranty | 4 to 6 years from date of breach |
| Fraud and Misrepresentation | 3 to 5 years from discovery |
Key Takeaway: Eligibility for the Roof Maxx lawsuit hinges on having a documented transaction and evidence of product failure within your state’s statute of limitations window, which starts when you discovered the harm, not necessarily when you paid.
Roof Maxx Product Failure Claims: What Went Wrong
Roof Maxx product failure claims center on a consistent pattern: homeowners paid for a treatment that promised to restore the flexibility and waterproofing capability of aging asphalt shingles, then watched their roofs continue to deteriorate as if the treatment had never been applied.
The product uses soy methyl esters, a plant-based oil compound, designed to penetrate asphalt shingles and restore lost oils that evaporate over time as shingles age. This is the science behind the product, and the science is not necessarily wrong in theory.
The problem, according to claimants, is the gap between the laboratory and real-world performance. Independent roofing contractors who later inspected treated roofs say they found no evidence of meaningful shingle restoration in many cases.
Common product failure scenarios reported by homeowners:
- Continued granule loss within 6 to 12 months of treatment
- Shingle cracking and brittleness despite treatment
- Roof leaks developing within 1 to 2 years post-treatment
- Contractors recommending full roof replacement shortly after Roof Maxx application
- Visible deterioration inconsistent with Roof Maxx’s claimed 5-year life extension
| Failure Type | Reported Frequency |
|---|---|
| Continued granule loss | Very common across complaint records |
| Roof leaks post-treatment | Frequently reported in online forums and BBB filings |
| Early replacement needed | Reported by significant portion of claimants |
| No visible improvement | Reported by the majority of dissatisfied customers |
The pattern across complaints is too consistent to dismiss as individual roof variation. That consistency is exactly what class action attorneys use to argue systematic product failure.
How Much Compensation Can You Get from the Roof Maxx Lawsuit?
The compensation you can receive from the Roof Maxx lawsuit depends directly on the harm you can document. At minimum, most claimants expect to recover the cost of the treatment itself, which typically ran between $150 and $600 per application.
Homeowners who needed early roof replacement after a failed treatment could recover significantly more. If an independent contractor’s report links your premature roof failure to the ineffectiveness of the treatment, your claim moves into a higher tier.
Courts in class action settlements typically set structured tiers. Claimants with only proof of purchase fall into Tier 1. Claimants with documented consequential harm fall into higher tiers. Some cases also award attorney fees separately, which means the claimant receives the full settlement amount without reduction.
| Compensation Level | Estimated Range | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Treatment Cost Refund | $150 to $600 | Purchase receipt |
| Tier 2: Repair Costs | $500 to $3,000 | Repair invoices plus contractor report |
| Tier 3: Replacement Cost Share | $3,000 to $15,000 | Independent inspection plus replacement invoice |
| Tier 4: Enhanced Damages | Varies by state | Evidence of intentional misrepresentation |
One realistic expectation: most class action settlements in consumer product cases settle in the range of one to three times the original purchase price for base-tier claimants.
Document everything. Every dollar you spent on repairs after treatment strengthens your claim for a higher tier.
Key Takeaway: Compensation from the Roof Maxx lawsuit ranges from the cost of your original treatment to full roof replacement reimbursement, depending entirely on how much documented evidence you have of harm caused by product failure.
How to File a Roof Maxx Lawsuit Claim
Filing a Roof Maxx lawsuit claim in 2026 starts with identifying whether you fall into an existing class action or need to file an individual claim. If a class action has been certified and you meet the eligibility criteria, you may receive a notice by mail or email with instructions to submit a claim form.
If you have not received notice but believe you qualify, contact a consumer rights attorney or a class action law firm handling Roof Maxx cases. Many work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.
Step-by-step filing process:
- Step 1: Gather all documentation (receipt, warranty, photos, inspection reports, repair invoices)
- Step 2: Search for the official class action settlement website if one has been established
- Step 3: Complete and submit the claim form with all supporting documents
- Step 4: Track your claim status and respond to any requests for additional information
- Step 5: Wait for court approval of the settlement and distribution of funds
| Filing Method | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Official Settlement Website | Once a settlement has been court-approved and notice issued |
| Direct Attorney Contact | If no settlement yet or if you want individual representation |
| State AG Consumer Complaint | As a supplementary step regardless of lawsuit status |
| BBB Complaint | Does not create legal rights but adds to the public record |
Do not wait for the class action to resolve on its own. Actively checking your claim status and verifying your submission was received is important.
Roof Maxx Claim Filing Deadline 2026: Do Not Miss This
The filing deadline for a Roof Maxx lawsuit claim is one of the most critical dates you need to track in 2026. Missing a deadline in a class action lawsuit typically means you lose the right to compensation permanently, even if you clearly qualify.
If a settlement is reached and approved, the court will set a specific claims submission deadline. This deadline is usually 60 to 120 days after the settlement notice is mailed to class members.
The statute of limitations for underlying claims also sets an outer boundary. Most state consumer protection claims have a two to four year window. Homeowners who received Roof Maxx treatment in 2021 or later are generally still within filing windows in 2026.
| Deadline Type | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Claims Submission After Settlement Notice | 60 to 120 days from notice date |
| Opt-Out Deadline (if applicable) | Usually 30 to 45 days from notice |
| Statute of Limitations: Consumer Protection | 2 to 4 years from discovery of harm |
| Statute of Limitations: Warranty Breach | 4 to 6 years from service date |
Do not assume you have more time than you think. Courts do not routinely extend deadlines for individual claimants who missed them due to inattention.
Set a calendar reminder. If you have not received a class notice but believe you qualify, contact a consumer attorney now rather than waiting.
Roof Maxx Lawsuit Status Update 2026
As of 2026, the Roof Maxx legal situation is actively developing. Complaints with the BBB and state consumer protection agencies have grown year over year since 2021. Law firms specializing in consumer class actions have publicly indicated interest in building a coordinated legal response.
No single nationwide class action settlement has been finalized as of early 2026. However, individual cases and state-level actions continue to move through the court system.
The trajectory follows a familiar pattern in consumer product cases. First comes a surge in public complaints. Then investigative media coverage. Then law firm involvement. Then class certification filings. Then settlement pressure. Roof Maxx is at an intermediate stage in this process.
| Milestone | Status as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| BBB Complaints Filed | Growing, with significant unresolved cases |
| State AG Involvement | Inquiries reported in multiple states |
| Class Action Filings | Underway in multiple jurisdictions |
| Class Certification | Pending in active cases |
| Settlement Negotiations | Not yet publicly confirmed |
| Payout to Claimants | Projected pending final settlement approval |
Monitoring developments closely in 2026 is the right move. Sign up for updates through law firms handling the case and check court dockets in Ohio and other states where filings are active.
Key Takeaway: The Roof Maxx lawsuit is actively developing in 2026 with multiple complaint channels engaged, class filings underway, and settlement negotiations yet to be publicly confirmed, meaning now is the time to document your situation and get legal guidance before deadlines crystallize.
Roof Maxx Warranty Claims and Your Legal Rights
Roof Maxx offers a warranty tied to its treatment, but the fine print matters enormously. Many homeowners report that when they tried to invoke the warranty after their roof continued to fail, the company or franchise contractor found reasons to deny the claim.
Understanding your legal rights around the warranty is separate from the class action lawsuit. You may have independent warranty claim rights even if the class action has not yet settled.
Under most state laws, both express warranties (written promises) and implied warranties (reasonable expectations of fitness) apply to services like roof treatment. If Roof Maxx contractors told you the treatment would extend your roof life by five years and it did not, that verbal promise may constitute an express warranty under your state’s law.
Your warranty rights as a homeowner:
- Written warranty terms cannot override state implied warranty protections in most states
- Verbal promises made during the sales process may be legally binding as express warranties
- Warranty denial can itself be the basis for a separate legal claim
- States with strong consumer protection laws (like Ohio, California, and New York) offer additional remedies
| Warranty Type | Legal Standard |
|---|---|
| Express Written Warranty | Company must honor exactly what was written |
| Express Verbal Warranty | Enforceable if you can document the promise was made |
| Implied Warranty of Fitness | Product must be reasonably fit for its marketed purpose |
| State Consumer Protection Override | Many states bar warranty disclaimers that waive core protections |
If Roof Maxx denied your warranty claim, document that denial in writing. That denial record becomes evidence in a legal proceeding.
Roof Maxx Franchise Complaints: The Contractor Problem
A significant layer of complexity in the Roof Maxx lawsuit involves the franchise model the company uses. Roof Maxx does not send its own employees to your home. It sells franchise licenses to independent contractors who apply the treatment under the Roof Maxx brand name.
This creates a legal ambiguity that the company may try to exploit. Roof Maxx could argue that if a franchise contractor made misleading claims, that is the contractor’s problem, not the company’s. Plaintiffs argue the opposite: because Roof Maxx provides training, scripts, marketing materials, and branded sales tools, the company is legally responsible for what its franchisees say.
Courts have generally held that franchisors can be liable for the conduct of franchisees when the franchisor controls the system that produces the misconduct.
Common franchise contractor complaints in Roof Maxx cases:
- Contractors using company-issued materials with unsubstantiated performance claims
- Contractors promising specific year counts of additional roof life without qualification
- Contractors failing to disclose limitations of the product for older or already-damaged shingles
- Contractors misrepresenting the treatment as a substitute for roof replacement when it was not appropriate
- Post-service, contractors becoming unreachable when customers reported problems
| Franchise Liability Factor | Significance |
|---|---|
| Uniform company-provided sales scripts | Supports argument of centralized control over misrepresentation |
| Brand-licensed marketing materials | Ties Roof Maxx to contractor representations |
| Training program content | Key evidence in establishing what contractors were told to say |
| Warranty issued under Roof Maxx name | Creates direct company-level obligation |
If you dealt with a Roof Maxx franchise contractor, save every communication with that contractor. Those records are evidence of what you were told, which is central to your claim.
Roof Maxx Treatment Complaints and What Customers Reported
The volume and consistency of Roof Maxx treatment complaints is striking. Across BBB filings, consumer forums, and state regulatory records, homeowners report a repeating set of experiences that form the evidentiary backbone of the lawsuit.
The pattern is consistent enough that it does not look like individual outliers having bad luck with aging roofs. It looks like a systemic gap between what was promised and what was delivered.
Think of it the way a food product recall works. One sick customer is an incident. Hundreds of customers reporting the same symptoms after the same product creates a pattern that demands a legal response.
Most frequently reported complaints from Roof Maxx customers:
- Treated roof showed no improved performance within 6 months
- Granule shedding continued or worsened after treatment
- Roof leaks developed within 12 to 24 months of treatment
- Independent roofing inspection found shingles in same or worse condition post-treatment
- Company denied warranty claim citing “normal wear” or “installation issues” outside its control
- Customer unable to reach contractor or Roof Maxx corporate for follow-up
| Complaint Category | Frequency in Public Records |
|---|---|
| No visible improvement | Highest reported category |
| Continued or worsening granule loss | Frequently cited |
| Roof leak after treatment | Frequently cited |
| Warranty denied | Commonly reported |
| Customer service failure | Widespread in online records |
These complaints are not just venting. They are the raw material that class action attorneys use to build the pattern-of-conduct argument that takes a case from individual grievance to class action status.
Roof Maxx Refund and Legal Options for Homeowners
Homeowners who are unhappy with Roof Maxx results have several potential paths to recover money, and these options are not mutually exclusive. Pursuing a refund directly does not prevent you from later joining a class action. It might even help by creating a written record that you raised the issue with the company.
Direct refund requests through the contractor or Roof Maxx corporate should be made in writing and kept on record. If denied, that denial becomes documentation of harm that supports a legal claim.
Your legal options exist on a spectrum from low-effort to high-effort:
Option 1: Direct Complaint and Refund Request
Contact Roof Maxx in writing, state specifically what was promised and what was delivered, and request a full refund. Keep all correspondence.
Option 2: BBB and State AG Complaint
File a formal complaint with your state’s Attorney General consumer protection division and the BBB. These do not guarantee money back, but they create public records and can trigger regulatory attention.
Option 3: Small Claims Court
If your losses are under your state’s small claims limit (typically $5,000 to $10,000), you can file a small claims case without an attorney.
Option 4: Join or File a Class Action
Contact a consumer class action law firm to evaluate your case. Most work on contingency, meaning no upfront cost to you.
| Legal Option | Effort Level | Potential Recovery | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Refund Request | Low | Treatment cost only | Quick resolution attempt |
| BBB/State AG Complaint | Low | Indirect pressure only | Creating documentation |
| Small Claims Court | Medium | Up to $5,000 to $10,000 | Documented losses under limit |
| Class Action | Low to medium | Varies by settlement | Most homeowners |
| Individual Lawsuit | High | Full damages plus fees | Large documented losses |
Most homeowners should start with options one and two simultaneously, then contact a class action attorney to evaluate options three through five.
Key Takeaway: Homeowners have at least five distinct legal pathways to pursue compensation from Roof Maxx, ranging from direct refund requests to class action participation, and pursuing multiple options simultaneously is not only allowed but often smart strategy.
Does Roof Maxx Work? What the Lawsuits and Evidence Say
This is the question sitting underneath every legal claim: does Roof Maxx actually work? The answer is genuinely complicated, and that complexity matters for the lawsuit.
Roof Maxx’s technology was originally developed by Battelle Memorial Institute, a respected research organization. The underlying science of restoring oil-depleted asphalt shingles with a plant-based oil compound is scientifically plausible. Laboratory testing showed promising results.
The gap is between controlled lab conditions and the reality of aging roofs in varying climates, installed over different underlayments, with different original shingle quality.
Homeowners whose roofs were marginally aged may have seen some benefit. Homeowners whose roofs were past a viable restoration window likely got little to nothing from the treatment regardless of the application quality. The legal argument is that Roof Maxx sold the treatment without adequately disclosing these limitations.
| Evidence Category | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Battelle Lab Research | Positive results under controlled conditions |
| Independent Field Inspections | Mixed to negative results on older real-world roofs |
| Customer Complaint Volume | Widespread dissatisfaction inconsistent with product working as advertised |
| Company Marketing Claims | “5 years of added life” promoted as broadly applicable |
| Legal Expert Opinions | Gap between marketing and real-world outcomes supports legal claims |
The lawsuits do not necessarily argue the product cannot work under any circumstance. They argue the company sold it as broadly effective when the evidence suggests it works for a narrower subset of roof conditions than the marketing implied.
That distinction is exactly the kind of misrepresentation that consumer protection law is designed to address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an active class action lawsuit against Roof Maxx in 2026?
Yes, legal actions against Roof Maxx are actively developing in 2026, with class action filings underway in multiple jurisdictions.
No single nationwide settlement has been finalized yet, but the legal framework is building.
Homeowners with complaints should begin documenting their situations now to be ready when a formal claims process opens.
How much money can I get from the Roof Maxx lawsuit settlement?
Most claimants can realistically expect to recover between $150 and $600 at minimum, covering the original treatment cost.
Homeowners with documented roof damage or early replacement costs may qualify for $3,000 to $15,000 or more.
The exact amount depends on the final settlement structure and the strength of your supporting documentation.
What do I need to prove to qualify for the Roof Maxx lawsuit?
You need to show that you purchased a Roof Maxx treatment and that the product did not perform as the contractor or company represented.
Key evidence includes your original receipt, any warranty paperwork, photos of the roof, and independent inspection reports.
The more documentation you have linking the treatment to subsequent roof failure, the stronger your claim.
What is the deadline to file a Roof Maxx lawsuit claim in 2026?
Once a class action settlement is approved by the court, claimants typically have 60 to 120 days from the date of notice to submit a claim.
The statute of limitations for underlying claims runs two to six years depending on your state and the type of claim.
Homeowners who received treatment in 2021 or later are generally still within filing windows as of 2026.
Can I still join the Roof Maxx lawsuit if my roof was already replaced?
Yes, homeowners who already replaced their roofs may actually have stronger claims because they have documented proof of early replacement costs.
The cost of a replacement roof is a quantifiable damage that can be attributed to Roof Maxx treatment failure.
Keep all receipts and inspection reports from your replacement project because they become central evidence in your claim.
What to Do Right Now
The Roof Maxx lawsuit is actively building in 2026 and homeowners who start preparing now will be in the strongest position when the formal claims process opens.
Pull together every document related to your treatment: receipts, warranties, contractor communications, photos, and any inspection or repair invoices you have since.
Contact a consumer class action attorney to get an evaluation of your specific situation. Most take these cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered for you.
