"This is a royal rape for the subscribers," said David Hakala, a former AOL subscriber and an editor at Boardwatch Magazine. Hakala added, "I wouldn't take this deal. The AOL subscribers should reject the deal and fire these lawyers."

Based on the $2.75 million in attorney's fees, Hakala maintains the AOL plaintiffs should be entitled to $8.25 million in cash--not the $500,000 proposed in the AOL deal. Hakala used a standard rule of thumb whereby plaintiff attorneys receive a contingency fee that's one-third the settlement amount.