Class Action
Class Action Defense Blog 
Class action news, articles and analysis on courts decisions, laws and litigation strategies.
Post Frequency: 1.7/day Last Entry: November 19, 2009 at 08:22:52 Recent Entries: 513
By Michael J. Hassen
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Class Action Defense Cases–Anthony v. AIG: Eleventh Circuit Certifies Questions To Georgia Supreme Court Following Dismissal Of Class Action Complaint Challenging Excessive Notary Fees Charged In Connection With Refinance
Posted on November 19, 2009Propriety of Dismissal of Class Action Challenging Notary Fees Charged by Lender in Connection with Refinance of Home Loan that were in Excess of Maximum Allowed by Georgia State Law Turned on Issues not yet Clearly Resolved by Georgia Courts Eleventh Circuit Holds, thereby Warranting Certification of Questions to Georgia Supreme Court Plaintiff filed a putative class action against American General Financial Services, with whom they had refinanced their home loan, alleging violations of various Georgia-state laws; each of the claims in the class action complaint were premised on a charge for notarial fees allegedly “in excess of the statutory maximum established by OCGA § 45-17-11(b)...
Class Action Defense Cases–Schachter v. Citigroup: California Supreme Court Affirms Defense Judgment In Labor Law Class Action Holding Forfeiture Of Restricted Stock Shares Upon Termination Did Not Violate California Labor Code
Posted on November 17, 2009Trial Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment in Favor of Employer in Class Action Alleging Failure to Pay Wages under Labor Code because Prospective, Bilateral Agreement between Employer and Employee to Pay a Portion of Compensation in Restricted Stock Shares that were Forfeited upon Resignation or Termination for Cause Prior to Expiration of Two-Year Vesting Period did not Violate Labor Code California Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff, a former stockbroker at Smith Barney (a subsidiary of Citigroup), filed a putative class action in California state court against Citigroup and others alleging violations of California’s labor laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Citigroup’s voluntary employee incentive compensation plan, which permitted employees to obtain “shares of restricted company stock at a reduced price in lieu of a portion of that employee’s annual cash compensation,” violated California law because the plan provided that if the employee resigns or is fired then he forfeits any shares of stock that had not yet vested...
Class Action Defense Cases–Williams v. Geithner: Minnesota Federal Court Denies Preliminary Injunction In Class Action Based On Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) Holding It Unlikely Class Action Claims Will Prevail
Posted on November 16, 2009Class Action Alleging Denial of Loan Modifications under HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program) Violate Constitutional Right to Procedural Due Process Unlikely to Succeed on the Merits because Federal Regulations did not Create Property Right in Loan Modifications so Plaintiffs’ Request for Preliminary Injunction Denied Minnesota Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various defendants – including various banks and federal government agencies – seeking a preliminary injunction...
Labor Law Class Actions Continue To Dominate Categories Of New Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on November 14, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of lawsuits against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FSLA Class Action Defense Cases—In re Enterprise: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Western District Of Pennsylvania As Transferee Court
Posted on November 13, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Objection of Common Class Action Defendants, but Transfers Class Actions to Western District of Pennsylvania Seven class actions – two in the Northern District of Illinois, and one each in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, the Northern District of Georgia, the Southern District of New York and the Western District of Pennsylvania, – were filed against various Enterprise Rent-A-Car entities alleging labor law violations...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Zerger v. Midway Games: Illinois Federal Court Dismisses Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint's Allegations Failed To Meet PSLRA's Pleading Requirements
Posted on November 12, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Securities Fraud Violations Failed to Allege Facts (as Opposed to Conclusions) or Adequately Plead Scienter under Heightened Pleadings Requirements of Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various officers and directors of Midway Games alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaint “alleg[ed] that the executives artificially inflated the market value of Midway stock by deceiving the public about the company’s financial position...
SLUSA Class Action Defense Cases–Segal v. Fifth Third Bank: Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Complaint Holding Class Action Claims Fell Within Scope Of SLUSA
Posted on November 11, 2009District Court Properly Found Class Action’s State Law Claims Fell within Scope of Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act (SLUSA) Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Fifth Third Bank and its holding company, Fifth Third Bancorp...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Indiana State District Counsel v. Omnicare: Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Noting Bad Corporate News Does Not Automatically Mean Securities Fraud
Posted on November 10, 2009Class Action Alleging Securities Fraud Properly Dismissed because Class Action Complaint Failed to Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements Established by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Omnicare and individual officers and directors of Omnicare alleging violations of federal securities laws; in the words of the Sixth Circuit, “Seizing on a few vague statements from management, the plaintiffs try to turn bad corporate news into a securities class action...
Class Action Defense Cases– Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma: California Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal Of Song-Beverly Class Action Holding Zip Codes Not “Personal Identification Information” Under The Act
Posted on November 09, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of California’s Song-Beverly Act Properly Dismissed because Zip Codes are not “Personal Identification Information” Within the Meaning of the Statute California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Williams-Sonoma alleging inter alia violations of California’s “Song-Beverly” Act, which “prohibits merchants that accept credit cards in transacting business from requesting and recording ‘personal identification information’ concerning the cardholder...
Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Labor Law Claims Maintain Grip On Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on November 07, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases–Trombley v. Bank of America: Rhode Island Federal Court Grants Plaintiffs Additional Time To Conduct Discovery Concerning Unconscionability Of Class Action Waiver In Arbitration Clause
Posted on November 05, 2009Plaintiffs in Class Action Challenging Late Fees Imposed on Credit Card Accounts and Contesting Enforceability of Arbitration Clause that Includes a Class Action Waiver were Entitled to Conduct Limited Discovery to Support Claim that Class Action Waiver was Unconscionable Rhode Island Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Bank of America alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and breach of credit card agreements based on the late fees charged by the Bank on credit card accounts; the class action complaint also sought a declaration that the arbitration clause in the credit card agreements, which included a class action waiver, was unenforceable...
Class Action Defense Cases–Premium Mortgage v. Equifax: Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Against Credit Reporting Agencies Holding State-Law Claims Preempted By Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Posted on November 04, 2009Class Action Complaint Against Credit Reporting Agencies Alleging State Law Claims Arising from Sale of “Trigger Leads” to Mortgage Lenders Properly Dismissed because Class Action Claims were Preempted by Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Second Circuit Holds Plaintiff, a mortgage lender, filed a putative class action against various consumer reporting agencies, including Equifax, Trans Union and Experian, alleging various state-law claims based on defendants’ “sale of mortgage ‘trigger leads’ to third party lenders”; the class action complaint explained that “trigger leads” reflect a consumer’s interest in obtaining a loan...
Class Action Defense Cases–Cohen v. DIRECTV: California Appellate Court Affirms Denial Of Class Action Certification In UCL/CLRA Class Action Holding Class Membership Lacked Commonality
Posted on November 03, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) Properly Denied Class Action Treatment because Putative Class Members Lacked Commonality California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in California state court against DIRECTV on behalf of satellite television service subscribers alleging false advertising; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that DirecTV violated California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) and Unfair Competition Law (UCL)...
Countrywide RESPA Class Action Defense Cases–Alston v. Countrywide: Third Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of RESPA Class Action Alleging Payment Of Kickbacks Holding Plaintiffs Had Standing To Prosecute Class Action
Posted on November 02, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing RESPA Class Action because Kickback Prohibition does not Require that Consumers Suffer an Overcharge as a Prerequisite to Prosecuting Claim for RESPA Violation Third Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Countrywide Financial Corporation, Countrywide Home Loans and Balboa Reinsurance Company alleging violations of the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (RESPA); the class action complaint was “brought by homebuyers who sought to recover statutory treble damages pursuant to section 8(d)(2) of [RESPA], codified at 12 U...
Labor Law Class Actions Continue Hold on Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 31, 2009To assist California class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class action against which they will have to defend, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FCRA Class Action Defense Cases–Gelman v. State Farm: Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Complaint Holding Mailer Constituted “Firm Offer” Within Meaning Of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Posted on October 27, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) Properly Dismissed because Mailer Constituted “Firm Offer” within Meaning of FCRA Third Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company alleging violations of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that State Farm obtained credit information in order to send out “prescreened offers” but that it did so in violation of the FCRA...
Arbitration Class Action Defense Cases–Cicle v. Chase: Eighth Circuit Reverses Denial Of Bank Motion To Compel Arbitration Of Plaintiff's Class Action Claims On Individual Basis Holding Class Action Waiver Enforceable
Posted on October 26, 2009District Court Erred in Refusing Motion to Stay Class Action Against Bank and Compel Arbitration of Individual Claim based on Arbitration Clause with Class Action Waiver because Class Action Waiver, and Cost-Sharing Provision, of Arbitration Clause did not Render Provision Unconscionable Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Missouri state court against Chase Bank alleging that it had imposed penalties on credit card holders and that it had violated Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA); in essence, the class action complaint alleged that Chase improperly increased the interest rate charged on credit card balances...
New Labor Law Class Actions Hold Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 24, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California courts, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Checking Account Overdraft: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Plaintiff To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of Florida
Posted on October 23, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Despite Certain Plaintiff and Defense Objections, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of Florida Five class actions – two in California and Florida, and one in New Jersey – were filed against various defendants – including Wachovia Bank, Bank of America and Citibank – “relating to industry-wide bank posting policies and procedures” surrounding overdraft fees...
Class Action Defense Cases–Baghdasarian v. Amazon: California Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment To UCL/CLRA Class Action Against Amazon.Com Concerning Shipping And Handling Fees
Posted on October 22, 2009Class Action Complaint Against Amazon Challenging Shipping and Handling Fees Satisfied Rule 23 Requirements for Class Action Treatment California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Amazon.com alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Amazon, in addition to receiving “a sales commission and a percentage of the sales price for each item sold,” charged shipping and handling fees to buyers “without input from Marketplace Sellers” even though it was the sellers who “took care of packaging and shipping products...
Class Action Defense Cases–Comer v. Murphy Oil: Fifth Circuit Reinstates Class Action Alleging Global Warming Exacerbated Damage Caused By Hurricane Katrina
Posted on October 21, 2009Class Action Alleging Defendants’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Contributed to Global Warming thereby Increasing Ferocity of Hurricane Katrina Improperly Dismissed because Plaintiffs had Standing to Assert Class Action’s Nuisance, Trespass and Negligence Claims and these Claims did not Present Nonjusticiable Political Questions Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against numerous defendants seeking damages arising from Hurricane Katrina; the class action complaint, filed on behalf of property owners on the Mississippi Gulf coast, alleged that “defendants’ operation of energy, fossil fuels, and chemical industries in the United States caused the emission of greenhouse gasses that contributed to global warming, viz...
Class Action Defense Cases–Somers v. Apple: California Federal Court Denies Class Action Certification Of Rule 23(b)(3) Class In Indirect Purchaser Antitrust Class Action But Reserves Ruling On Class Action Treatment Under Rule 23(b)(2)
Posted on October 20, 2009Class Action Alleging Antitrust Violations on Behalf of Indirect Purchasers Failed to Satisfy Class Action Requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) because no Methodology for Establishing Class Wide Damages but Request for Class Action Certification under Rule 23(b)(2) taken under Submission California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Apple alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws; specifically, the class action complaint challenged Apple’s sale of music for its iPod through its iTunes online music store...
Class Action Defense Cases–Castaneda v. Burger King: California Federal Court Severely Limits Scope Of Class In ADA Class Action Holding Commonality/Typicality Not Met For Stores Not Frequented By Named Plaintiffs
Posted on October 19, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) could not Properly be Certified with Respect to All 92 Franchise Restaurant Locations because no Common Architectural Design to Stores so no Commonality/Typicality Existed, but Class Action Treatment Warranted as to 10 Stores Frequented by Named Plaintiffs California Federal Court Holds Three named plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Burger King alleging that certain of its California restaurants violated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), California’s Americans with Disabilities Act (Unruh) and California’s Disabled Persons Act (CDPA) in various ways; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that the three named plaintiffs are mobility-impaired and had encountered barriers at Burger King restaurants...
New Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Employment-Related Claims Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 17, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Merrill Lynch: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on October 16, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Objections of Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Four class actions – one each in Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts and New York – were filed against various defendants including Merrill Lynch arising out of “allegations that Merrill Lynch and/or its employees made misrepresentations or omissions in the context of the sale of auction rate securities (ARS) and manipulated the auctions for ARS in order to prevent auction failures...
Class Action Defense Cases–Cirzoveto v. AIG: Tennessee Federal Court Grants Defense Motion For Summary Judgment Against Claims Asserted In Class Action Alleging Breach Of Contract
Posted on October 15, 2009Class Action Alleging Breach of Annuity Contract for Failure to Pay Promised Interest Rate Failed Entitling Defense to Summary Judgment on Class Action Complaint Tennessee Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against AIG Annuity Insurance Company alleging breach of contract; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that AIG failed to pay the amount of interest promised under the annuity contract...
Class Action Defense Cases–Sher v. Raytheon: Florida Federal Court Grants Class Action Status To Class Action Complaint Alleging Toxic Tort Liability For Ground Contamination
Posted on October 14, 2009Class Action Seeking Damages for Diminished Property Values resulting from Release of Chemicals causing Ground Contamination Warranted Class Action Treatment Florida Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Raytheon alleging that the release of chemicals at a Facility owned by Raytheon caused ground contamination that diminished the property values...
ADA Class Action Defense Cases–Ault v. Walt Disney World: Florida Federal Court Dismisses ADA Class Action For Lack Of Standing Holding Class Action Did Not Seek "Access" But "Human Dignity" Through New Technology
Posted on October 13, 2009Class Action Challenging Disney Prohibition Against use of Segways at Parks Warranted Dismissal for Lack of Standing Florida Federal Holds because Disney Afforded Named Plaintiffs “Access” to its Parks through Scooters, Wheelchairs, and 4-Wheel “Electronic Stand-Up Vehicles” (ESVs) but Barred Segways for Safety Reasons Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Walt Disney World alleging violations of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Disney violated the ADA by refusing to allow disabled persons to use Segways within the park...
HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on October 12, 2009The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy Columbus Day holiday. A new class action article will be published tomorrow.
Labor Law Class Actions Continue Dominance Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 10, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California courts, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Oppenheimer: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District Of Georgia
Posted on October 09, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Georgia Thirteen (13) class actions – four in California, four in the Eastern District of New York, three in Colorado and one in the Southern District of New York and the Western District of Pennsylvania – were filed against various defendants including various Oppenheimer entities...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Irish v. Burlington: Wisconsin Federal Court Reaffirms Order Remanding Class Action To State Court Holding Post-Removal Amendments Destroyed CAFA Removal Jurisdiction
Posted on October 08, 2009Plaintiffs’ Amendment to Class Action Complaint Following Removal under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Defeated CAFA Jurisdiction Warranting Remand of Lawsuit to State Court Wisconsin Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Wisconsin state court against various defendants seeking “damages resulting from a flash flood that inundated plaintiffs’ homes in the town of Bagley, Wisconsin in 2007...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Marilao v. McDonald’s: California Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Alleging McDonald’s Legally Required To Redeem Gift Cards For Cash But Grants Leave To Amend Class Action Complaint
Posted on October 07, 2009Class Action Failed to Allege Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) based on Merchant’s Refusal to Redeem Gift Card for Cash because California Law gives Merchant Option Whether to Redeem (So Long as Gift Card Value Less than $10) California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in California state court against McDonald’s alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and unjust enrichment...
Class Action Defense Cases–Movsesian v. Victoria Versicherung: Ninth Circuit Reverses Denial Of Motion To Dismiss Class Action Holding California Statute Regarding Armenian Genocide Unconstitutional
Posted on October 06, 2009District Court Erred in Denying Motion to Dismiss Class Action because California Statute Regarding Armenian Genocide was Preempted by Foreign Affairs Doctrine Ninth Circuit Holds In December 2003, plaintiff filed a class action against various defendants on behalf of “persons of Armenian descent who claim benefits from insurance policies issued by” two of the defendants; the class action complaint sought damages for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, among other claims...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Rutti v. Lojack: Ninth Circuit Affirms Defense Summary Judgment In FLSA Class Action Except As To One Claim Seeking Compensation For Postliminary Activities
Posted on October 05, 2009District Court Properly Granted Defense Motion for Summary Judgment as to Commute Time and Preliminary Activities Time, but Issue of Fact Existed as to Whether Postliminary Activity of Daily Transmissions to Employer Warranted Compensation Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against his employer, Lojack, alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to compensate its installation technicians for “time they spent commuting to worksites in Lojack's vehicles and for time spent on preliminary and postliminary activities performed at their homes...
Class Actions Alleging Employment-Related Claims Take Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 03, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re RBS Worldpay: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District Of Georgia
Posted on October 02, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Georgia Two class actions – one in Georgia and one in Ohio – were filed against various defendants including RBS Worldypay arising out of “an unauthorized intrusion into RBSW’s computer system...
RESPA Class Action Defense Cases–Yeatman v. D.R. Horton: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Mere Offering Of Closing Cost Discount For Use Of Affiliated Lender Does Not Violate RESPA Or HUD Regulations
Posted on September 30, 2009Class Action Alleging RESPA Violations by Home Builder for Offering Discount on Closing Costs for use of Affiliated Lender Properly Dismissed because Mere Offering of such an Option does not Violate RESPA or HUD Regulations Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against home builder D...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re Sanofi-Aventis: New York Federal Court Dismisses Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Adequately Plead Fraud Or Scienter
Posted on September 29, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Securities Fraud Violations Arising from Disclosures Concerning Drug under Development Failed to State Claims under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Rule 10b-5 New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis and certain individual defendants alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants misrepresented facts concerning the company’s “research activities and attempt to market a drug called ‘rimonabant’ used to treat obesity and related illnesses...
AT&T Class Action Defense Cases–Morgan v. AT&T: California Appellate Court Reinstates Class Action Against AT&T Holding Class Action Complaint Sufficiently Alleged UCL, CLRA and Fraud To Survive Demurrer
Posted on September 28, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging AT&T Violated State Consumer Protection Laws Concerning Advertising of Premium Cell Phone Properly Dismissed as to False Advertising and Declaratory Relief Claims but UCL, CLRA and Fraud Claims Improperly Dismissed California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against AT&T Wireless alleging violations of various state consumer protection laws; specifically, the class action complaint was “based upon AT&T‟s marketing and sale of premium cell phones that operated on a wireless network that AT&T allegedly modified in a manner that rendered those premium cell phones essentially useless...
New Class Actions Alleging Employment-Related Claims Hold On To Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts But UCL Claims Run Close Second
Posted on September 26, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Blood Reagents: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motions To Centralize Class Action Litigation And Transfers Class Actions To Eastern District Of Pennsylvania
Posted on September 25, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Requests for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs or Common Defendants, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of Pennsylvania Ten (10) class actions – eight in New Jersey, one in New York and one in Pennsylvania – were filed against various defendants alleging antitrust violations; specifically, the class action complaints allege “price fixing in a claimed nationwide market for blood reagent products and seek recovery under federal antitrust law” In re Blood Reagents Antitrust Litig...
Class Action Defense Cases–County of Nassau v. Hotels.Com: Second Circuit Remands Class Action For Consideration In First Instance Of Propriety Of Class Action Treatment Is Appropriate
Posted on September 24, 2009Class Action Alleging Failure to Online Hotel Room Reseller to Pay Proper Occupancy Taxes, Dismissed by District Court for Failure of County to Comply with Administrative Process for Assessing and Collecting Taxes, Remanded for District Court Consideration of Whether Class Action Certification is Appropriate Second Circuit Holds Plaintiff County of Nassau filed a putative class action against Hotels...
Class Action Defense Cases–Rynearson v. Motricity: Washington Federal Court Again Remands Class Action To State Court Holding CAFA Jurisdiction Not Met And “Other Paper” Does Not Include Pleadings In Unrelated Action
Posted on September 23, 2009Class Action Improperly Removed to Federal Court under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) because Declaration of Plaintiff’s Counsel in Unrelated Lawsuit Against Different Defendant was Insufficient to Establish $5 Million Amount in Controversy and, in Any Event, did not Constitute an “Other Paper” within Meaning of Removal Statute, Warranting Remand of Class Action and Award of Attorney Fees and Costs for Frivolous Removal Washington Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Washington state court against Motricity alleging violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant “facilitated placing unauthorized charges for mobile content on customers’ bills...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Hicks v. Client Services: Florida Federal Court Denies Motion To Decertify Class Action Holding De Minimis Recovery Does Not Defeat Rule 23(b)'s Superiority Requirement
Posted on September 22, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Properly Certified as Class Action despite De Minimis Recovery for Class Members Florida Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Client Services alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); plaintiff moved to certify the litigation as a class action, and the district court agreed that class action treatment was warranted under Rule 23...
Target Class Action Defense Cases–Muro v. Target: Seventh Circuit Affirms Denial Of Class Action Treatment Of TILA Class Action Holding Plaintiff Lack Standing To Appeal Denial Of Class Certification As She Settled Individual Claim
Posted on September 21, 2009As Matter of First Impression, because Plaintiff Settled her Individual Claims Following Denial of Class Action Certification Motion of Class Action Alleging Violations of Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Plaintiff Lacked Standing to Appeal Propriety of District Court Order Denying Class Certification Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against various Target entities alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA); the class action complaint alleged that Target sent plaintiff an unsolicited Target Visa card in the mail in violation of TILA’s prohibition against sending credit cards in the absence of a request or application by the consumer...
Labor Law Class Actions Continue To Hold Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on September 19, 2009In order to allow class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Madoff-Related Class Action Defense Cases—In re Optimal Strategic: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of Florida
Posted on September 18, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by New York Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Class Actions to Southern District of Florida Three class actions – two in Florida and one in New York – were filed against various defendants, including various Banco Santander entities and HSBC entities, alleging securities laws violations; specifically, the class action complaints allege that “defendants failed to perform adequate due diligence before investing money from their fund, Optimal Multiadvisors, Ltd...
Class Action Defense Cases–Brown v. JEVIC: Third Circuit Reverses Order Remanding Class Action To State Court Holding Class Action Properly Removed Under Class Action Fairness Act Despite Fact Co-Defendant Was In Bankruptcy
Posted on September 17, 2009Class Action Filed in State Court Against Defendant and Co-Defendant Debtor in Bankruptcy Removable to Federal Court under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) because Co-Defendant Sued in Violation of Automatic Stay and because Co-Defendant’s Bankruptcy does not Preclude Defendant from Removing Class Action to Federal Court Third Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against JEVIC Transportation and its parent company, Sun Capital Partners, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants violated New Jersey’s WARN Act which, “[l]ike its federal counterpart, …requires advance notice of a plant closing under certain circumstances...
Class Action Defense Cases–Blough v. Holland Realty: Ninth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Of Antitrust Class Action Claims Because There Was No Adverse Effect On Competition In The Tied Product Market
Posted on September 16, 2009District Court did not Err in Granting Summary Judgment on Class Actions’ Claims Alleging Antitrust Violations in the Form of Unlawful Tying Arrangements in the Sale of Undeveloped Properties because Challenged Conduct did not Adversely Affect Competition in the Market Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed four separate putative class actions against several defendants alleging “that various realtors representing developers tied the sale of undeveloped lots to services and commissions for developed property in violation of the federal and state anti-trust laws...
FedEx Class Action Defense Cases–Babineau v. Federal Express: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Denial Of Class Action Treatment Of Putative Labor Law Class Action Claims Holding Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance Requirement Not Met
Posted on September 15, 2009Labor Law Class Action Complaint did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Individualized Inquiries would Predominate and because Rule 23(b)(1)(A)’s Requirements for Class Action were not Met given Monetary Relief Sought by Plaintiffs Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against their employer, Federal Express, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that FedEx “failed to pay employees for ‘all hours worked...
FCRA Class Action Defense Cases–Beaudry v. Telecheck: Sixth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of FCRA Class Action Holding Private Right Of Action Under FCRA Does Not Require Proof Of Actual Damages
Posted on September 14, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) on Ground that Plaintiff had not Suffered any Actual Injury because FCRA Allows for Recovery of Statutory Damages for Willful Violations Without Showing of Actual Injury Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Telecheck Services and others alleging violations of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants – “a group of foreign corporations who provide check-verification services” – “failed to account for a 2002 change in the numbering used by the Tennessee driver’s license system, leading their systems to reflect incorrectly that many Tennessee consumers…were first-time check-writers...
New Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on September 12, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Citigroup Securities Litigation: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on September 11, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by California Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Class Actions to Southern District of New York Ten class actions – nine in New York and one in California – were filed against various Citigroup entities alleging securities laws violations “by misleading investors about the nature of Citigroup’s investments and the company’s financial condition...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Manson v. GMAC Mortgage: Massachusetts Federal Court Denies Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Holding Class Action Removable Under CAFA
Posted on September 10, 2009Class Action Properly Removed to Federal Court under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) because Defendants Adequately Established $5 Million Amount in Controversy and because Plaintiffs Failed to Establish that Local Controversy Exception or Home-State Controversy Exception Applied Massachusetts Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Massachusetts state court against GMAC Mortgage and various other defendants challenging defendant’s mortgage foreclosure practices; specifically, the class action complaint alleges GMAC violated Massachusetts state law in connection with its foreclosure proceedings because “the foreclosed mortgages had not been validly assigned to the foreclosing banks at the time the foreclosure actions were undertaken...
Class Action Defense Cases–Walker v. Motricity: California Federal Court Remands Class Action To State Court Holding CAFA’s Amount In Controversy Requirement Not Met And Sanctions Defendant For Removal
Posted on September 09, 2009Class Action Improperly Removed to Federal Court (Twice) because Defendant Failed to Establish $5 Million Amount in Controversy Required by Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) and Basis for Defendant’s Removal of Class Action Warrants Sanctions Sua Sponte California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in California state court against Motricity alleging violations of every conceivable statute, including the kitchen sink (see NOTE), arising from Motricity’s alleged act of billing for unwanted mobile content...
Class Action Defense Cases–Garza v. Swift: Arizona Supreme Court Holds Court Of Appeals Lacked Jurisdiction To Hear Appeal From Trial Court Order Denying Class Action Certification Motion
Posted on September 08, 2009Trial Court Order Denying Class Action Treatment not Appealable because not “Final Judgment” so Court of Appeals Erred in Exercising Appellate Jurisdiction to Review Order Denying Class Action Certification Arizona Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Arizona state court against his former employer, Swift Transportation, a trucking company, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Swift paid its truck drivers per “dispatched mile” but “systematically underestimated mileage and, by doing so, routinely underpaid its drivers...
HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on September 07, 2009The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy Labor Day. A new class action article will be published tomorrow.
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Regain Top Spot Among New Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on September 05, 2009In order to allow class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Celexa & Lexapro: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To Massachusetts
Posted on September 04, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, but Transfers Class Actions to District not Mentioned by Any of the Parties, the District of Massachusetts Two class actions – one in Missouri and one in New York – were filed against various defendants, including Forest Laboratories and Forest Pharmaceuticals alleging that defendants “engaged in false and misleading promotion of Celexa and Lexapro for pediatric or adolescent use and sought to induce physicians and others to prescribe Celexa or Lexapro by providing them with various forms of illegal remuneration...
Class Action Defense Cases–Proctor v. Metropolitan Money Store: Maryland Federal Court Denies Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Claims But Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion To Dismiss Counterclaims And Certifies Class Action
Posted on September 03, 2009Class Action Complaint Adequately Pleaded Claims Against Individual Defendants Arising out of Alleged “Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Scam” but Defendants’ Counterclaims for Fraud were Barred by Doctrine of Res Judicata Maryland Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Metropolitan Money Store and others alleging that they were “involved in a mortgage foreclosure rescue scam”; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that plaintiffs were “homeowners with substantial equity in their homes, but who were nevertheless facing foreclosure” which “made them targets of Defendants’ promise of credit repair and foreclosure avoidance, which, in actuality, involved fraudulent representations and transactions designed to siphon off the equity in the homeowners’ homes, thus leaving them in a far worse position than before...
Class Action Defense Cases–Holk v. Snapple: Third Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Class Action’s State Law Claims Regarding "All Natural" Label Not Preempted By Federal Nutrition Labeling And Education Act
Posted on September 02, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action because Class Action’s State Law Claims Alleging Snapple’s Use of Term “All Natural” was Deceptive were not Impliedly Preempted by Federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act Third Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in New Jersey state court against Snapple Beverage Corporation alleging inter alia violations of the state’s Consumer Fraud Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that plaintiff purchased a Snapple beverage advertised as “All Natural” when in truth the beverage “contained high fructose corn syrup (‘HFCS’), an ingredient manufactured from processed cornstarch...
Class Action Defense Cases–Vasilas v. Subaru: New York Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Class Action For Violation Of Federal Odometer Act Holding Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged Fraud
Posted on September 01, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violation of Federal Odometer Act Survives Defense Motion to Dismiss because Class Action’s Claim under the Act Pleaded Fraud with Requisite Particularity New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Subaru of America alleging violations of the Federal Odometer Act and related state laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Subaru manufactured vehicles “with defective odometers that deliberately overstated the vehicles’ mileage...
RESPA Class Action Defense Cases–Tubbs v. North American Title: New Jersey Federal Court Dismisses Class Action RESPA Claim And Dismisses Balance Of Class Action After Declining Jurisdiction Over Class Action’s State Law Claims
Posted on August 31, 2009Class Action Alleging Improper Charges for Settlement Services Failed to State Claim under Real Estate Settlement Practices Act (RESPA) because Class Action Described an “Overcharge” Rather than a “Markup” or a “Fee Split” and Remaining Class Action State Law Claims Dismissed without Prejudice because Court Refused to Exercise Supplemental Jurisdiction over them New Jersey Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various North American Title entities alleging inter alia violations of the federal Real Estate Settlement Practices Act (RESPA) and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants charged improper fees in connection with the refinancing of residential mortgages...
New Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Class Action Lawsuits Tie Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on August 29, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys,we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Park West Galleries: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Western District Of Washington As Transferee Court
Posted on August 28, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over the Objections of Class Action Plaintiffs, but Transfers Class Actions to Western District of Washington Four class actions – two in Florida and one each in Michigan and Washington – were filed against various defendants, including Park West Galleries and Fine Art Sales, alleging “that defendants operated a fraudulent scheme to sell fake, worthless, or low-value artwork at shipboard auctions or in private sales through the use of phony appraisals and/or other sales-related documentation...
Class Action Defense Cases–Martinelli v. Petland: Arizona Federal Court Dismisses RICO Class Action Alleging Sale Of "Mill Bred" Puppies As "Finest Available" But Grants Leave To Amend Class Action Complaint
Posted on August 27, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging RICO and State Consumer Protection Law Violations Arising from Sale of “Mill Bred” Puppies to “Unsuspecting Consumers” who Believed they were Acquiring the “Finest Available” Puppies Failed to State Claims Against Defendants Arizona Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Petland and Hunte Corporation, purportedly on behalf of a class of “residents of various states who bought a Petland puppy, alleging violations of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) [“predicated on alleged violations of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes”], conspiracy, violations of various state consumer protection laws, and violation of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act...
Class Action Defense Cases–DeBlasio v. Merrill Lynch: New York Federal Court Grants Motion To Dismiss Fraud Class Action Against Brokerages Finding Class Action Complaint’s Allegations Failed Under Rules 9(b) and 12(b)(6)
Posted on August 26, 2009Defense Motions to Dismiss Class Action Granted because Allegations in Class Action Complaint Failed to Meet Rule 9(b)’s Requirements for Pleading Fraud with Specificity and because Class Action’s Allegations Failed under Rule 12(b)(6) New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Merrill Lynch entities, Morgan Stanley entities, Citigroup entities, Charles Schwab entities and Wachovia entities, alleging inter alia violations of the Investment Advisers Act (IAA), the Sherman Antitrust Act, and New York’s General Business Law § 349; the class action complaint alleged that defendants violated state and federal laws by “engaged in ‘deceptive and misleading’ practices relating to a series of ‘Cash Sweep Programs’ that were offered as part of Plaintiffs’ brokerage accounts...
Class Action Defense Cases–Greenwich v. Countrywide: New York Federal Court Remands Class Action To State Court Holding Class Action Complaint Fell Within Exception To CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) Removal
Posted on August 25, 2009Class Action Complaint Satisfied Amount in Controversy and Minimal Diversity Requirements for Removal under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), but Remand Warranted because Plaintiffs Met Burden of Establishing Exception to Removal Jurisdiction in that Class Action Related Solely to Securities New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, the holders of mortgage-backed securities certificates issued by various trusts, filed a putative class action in New York state court against various Countrywide entities seeking declaratory relief; specifically, the class action complaint alleged inter alia that Countrywide violated the federal Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA)...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Boucher v. Shaw: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Labor Law Class Action Claims Against Individual Managers But Reverses As To Class Action's FLSA Claims Against Individuals
Posted on August 24, 2009Labor Law Class Action Seeking to Hold Individual Managers Liable for Wages due Employees Properly Dismissed as to Class Action Claims under Nevada State Law, but Improperly Dismissed as to Class Action Claims under Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, former employees and their local union, filed a putative class action in Nevada state court against individual managers of the Castaways Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center alleging violations of state and federal labor laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that That the three individual managers – the Chairman and CEO, who had a 70% ownership interest in Castaways, the CFO, who had a 30% ownership interest in the Castaways, and the head of labor and employment matters for the Castaways – were personally liable for the state and federal labor law violations because “each defendant had custody or control over the ‘plaintiffs, their employment, or their place of employment at the time that the wages were due...
Class Actions Alleging Employment-Related Claims Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on August 22, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Orleans Homebuilders: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of Texas
Posted on August 21, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of Texas Nineteen (19) class actions – seven in the District of New Jersey; two in the Southern District of Texas; and one each in the Middle District of Alabama, the District of Arizona, the Eastern District of California, the Southern District of California, the Northern District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the District of Kansas, the Western District of Missouri, the Northern District of Ohio, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin – were filed against Heartland Payments Systems arising from an “electronic intrusion into Heartland’s processing system...
Class Action Defense Cases–Clark v. American Residential: California Appellate Court Reverses Approval Of Class Action Settlement Holding Trial Court Lacked Sufficient Information And Amounts Approved Were Excessive
Posted on August 20, 2009Approval of Class Action Settlement Required Reversal because (1) Record did not Support Trial Court’s Valuation of Class Claims, (2) Incentive Award of 44 Times Average Recovery of Class Members was Excessive, and (3) Trial Court could not Award Costs in Excess of Amount set forth in Class Notice without Further Notice to Class California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in California state court against their employer, American Residential Services alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to pay minimum wage or overtime, and failed to provide meal and rest periods...
FedEx Class Action Defense Cases–In re FedEx Ground: Indiana Federal Court Grants Class Action Certification Motions As To Certain State Labor Law Class Action Claims And Denies Class Action Treatment As To Five State Lawsuits
Posted on August 19, 2009Labor Law Class Actions, Coordinated for Pretrial Purposes by Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Warranted Class Action Treatment under Certain State Laws but failed to Satisfy Prerequisites for Class Action Treatment under Other State Laws Indiana Federal Court Holds Numerous class action lawsuits were filed in various states against Federal Express alleging labor law violations in that FedEx allegedly failed to pay certain delivery drivers overtime and other wages; ultimately, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation coordinated the class actions for pretrial purposes in the Northern District of Indiana...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re CP Ships: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Class Action Settlement Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Members Of Canadian Class Actions Could Opt Out
Posted on August 18, 2009District Court did not Abuse its Discretion in Approving Class Action Settlement in Securities Fraud Class Action Filed in United States because Class Members with Claims in Canadian Class Actions were Provided Adequate Notice of the Right to Opt Out of the U...
Class Action Defense Cases–Fener v. Belo: Fifth Circuit Court Affirms Denial Of Class Action Treatment In Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Plaintiffs Failed To Establish Loss Causation
Posted on August 17, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Securities Fraud Properly Denied Class Action Treatment because Plaintiffs Failed to Establish that Decline in Stock Price was Connected to Disclosure of Alleged Fraud rather than Long-Term Industry Trends Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Belo Corporation and others alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Belo – a media company that inter alia published the Dallas Morning News (DMN), which accounted for 30% of Belo’s revenue – “engaged in a fraudulent scheme designed to inflate DMN’s circulation artificially...
Heavy Week For New Class Action Filings And Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Top Spot Among New Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on August 15, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of claims against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Citigroup: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on August 14, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Objection of Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Three class actions – two in New York and one in Pennsylvania – were filed against Citigroup and others alleging that “Citigroup entities and/or its employees made misrepresentations or omissions in the context of the sale of auction rate securities (ARS)...
Qualcomm Class Action Defense Cases–Lorenzo v. Qualcomm: California Federal Court Dismisses Antitrust Class Action Complaint Against Qualcomm For Lack Of Standing And Failure To Adequately Plead Damage
Posted on August 13, 2009Class Action Alleging Antitrust And State Law Violations Against Qualcomm Warranted Dismissal because Plaintiff Lacked Standing to Prosecute Clayton Act/Cartwright Act Antitrust Claims and Failed to Adequately Plead Damage Resulting from Defendant’s Conduct California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Qualcomm alleging inter alia violations of state and federal antitrust laws, as well as violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and Unfair Practices Act; specifically, the class action complaint “challenged the lawfulness of Qualcomm’s licensing practices with respect to its intellectual property used for Code Division Multiple Access (‘CDMA’) wireless technology...
Antitrust Action Defense Cases–Ginsburg v. InBev: Missouri Federal Court Grants Motion For Judgment On The Pleadings Of Antitrust Class Action
Posted on August 12, 2009Antitrust Class Action Challenging Merger of Anheuser-Busch and InBev Fails as a Matter of Law because InBev could not Reasonably be Viewed as a “Potential Competitor” Prior to the Merger Missouri Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, characterizing themselves as “a group of Missouri beer consumers and purchasers,” filed a putative class action against Anheuser-Busch and InBev NV/SA challenging the proposed merger of the companies; the class action complaint alleged that “the merger “violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act because it would eliminate InBev as a ‘perceived’ and ‘actual’ potential competitor” in the United States beer market...
Blue Cross Class Action Defense Cases–Yeager v. Blue Cross: California Court Affirms Judgment For Insurer In Class Action Challenging Infertility Treatment Coverage Holding Full Coverage Not Required By Statute
Posted on August 11, 2009Trial Court Properly Granted Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment in Class Action Challenging Infertility Treatment Benefits because California Law Requires only that Blue Cross “Offer” such Coverage on Terms Negotiated with Employer, not that the Insurance Benefits Provide “Full” Coverage for Infertility Treatments California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Blue Cross of California alleging for violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and false advertising; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that California law required Blue Cross to offer to provide insurance coverage for infertility treatments, but that it only offered “to pay up to $2,000 a year for half the cost of each group member’s treatment for infertility...
UPS Class Action Defense Cases–Hohider v. United Parcel Service Express: Third Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification Of ADA Class Action Holding District Court Abused Discretion In Granting Certification
Posted on August 10, 2009District Court Order Granting Certification Of ADA Class Action under Rule 23(b)(2) Warranted Reversal because District Court Abused Discretion in Overlooking Individualized Inquiries Inherent in Class Action Claims and because Monetary Relief was not Merely Incidental to Class Action Complaint Third Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against United Parcel Service “alleging UPS has adopted and implemented companywide employment policies that are unlawfully discriminatory under the [Americans with Disabilities Act] ADA...
Relative Percentage Of Labor Law Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts Soars
Posted on August 08, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Comcast: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District Of Pennsylvania
Posted on August 07, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Rejects Request of Overwhelming Majority of Responding Parties for Transfer to Northern District of Illinois, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of Pennsylvania as Requested by Moving Party Nine class actions –three each in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and one each in the Eastern and Northern Districts of California, and the Southern District of West Virginia – were filed against Comcast and others alleging antitrust violations; specifically, the class action complaints allege that “Comcast improperly tied and bundled the lease of cable boxes to the ability to obtain premium cable services in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act...
Insurance Class Action Defense Cases–Spagnola v. Chubb: Second Circuit Generally Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Claims For Violations Of New York's Insurance Law And Deceptive Business Practices Act But Reverses As To Breach Of Contract Claim
Posted on August 06, 2009Class Action Claims Challenging Increases in Homeowner’s Insurance Premiums Properly Dismissed Except for One Aspect of Breach of Contract Claim Second Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against his homeowner’s insurer, Chubb, alleging inter alia violations of New York’s Insurance Law and deceptive business practices act; the class action complaint alleged that Chubb violated the terms of the policy “by improperly increasing coverage and premiums without his consent and in excess of the [Consumer Price Index]...
Class Action Defense Cases–Desai v. Deutsche Bank: Ninth Circuit Affirms Denial Of Class Action Treatment In Securities Fraud Class Action Case Holding Issue Of Reliance Defeated Predominance Prong Of Rule 23(b)(3)
Posted on August 05, 2009District Court did not Abuse Discretion in Denying Class Action Certification in Securities Fraud Class Action because Reliance Required to Establish Securities Exchange Act § 10(b) Violation could not be Proven on a Class-Wide Basis Ninth Circuit Holds Numerous putative class action complaints were filed against Deutsche Bank alleging securities fraud in the alleged manipulation of the stock price of GenesisIntermedia, Inc...
Target Class Action Defense Cases–Loeffler v. Target: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Plaintiffs Lacked Standing To Challenge Sales Taxes Collected By Target
Posted on August 04, 2009Class Action Alleging Target Improperly Collected Sales Tax on Sale of Hot Coffee “To Go” Properly Dismissed because Plaintiffs do not have Standing under California Statutory Scheme to Seek Reimbursement from Retailer of Sales Taxes Paid to State and Lack Standing to Directly or Indirectly Enjoin the Collection of Sales Taxes California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in California state court against Target alleging that it unlawfully collected sales taxes on purchases of coffee; the class action complaint sought reimbursement of the sales taxes paid by class members, and an injunction against the collection of such sales taxes in the future...
FedEx Class Action Defense Cases–Babineau v. Federal Express: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Denial Of Class Action Certification Of Labor Law Class Action Holding District Court Acted Within Its Discretion
Posted on August 03, 2009District Court did not Err in Denying Class Action Treatment of Labor Law Class Action because Court did not Abuse its Discretion in Concluding that Individualized Factual Issues Concerning Gap and Break Periods Predominate over Common Issues Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Federal Express alleging labor law violations in that FedEx allegedly “fail[ed] to pay hourly employees for all time worked”; the lawsuit has been characterized as “Round Two” because “the district court denied certification of a nationwide class of FedEx employees asserting substantially similar claims in Clausnitzer v...
Class Actions Alleging Employment-Related Claims Hold Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on August 01, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re LandAmerica: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District of South Carolina
Posted on July 31, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Agrees to Transfers Class Actions to District of South Carolina Two class actions – one in California and one in South Carolina – were filed against various defendants, including LandAmerica and SunTrust Banks, “on behalf of individuals and entities that sought to enter into a Section 1031 tax-deferred exchange and entrusted money to facilitate the exchange with the qualified intermediary LandAmerica 1031 Exchange Services, Inc...
BofA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Consumer Privacy: California Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court Approval Of Class Action Settlement And Award Of Attorney Fees Under Clear Sailing Agreement
Posted on July 30, 2009Trial Court did not Err in Approving Class Action Settlement in Class Action Against Bank of America for Invasion of Privacy Arising from Sale of Customer Information to Third Party Marketers and “Clear Sailing Agreement” as to Attorney Fee Award to Class Counsel did not Invalidate Award California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Bank of America and related entities alleging inter alia invasion of privacy arising from the Bank’s alleged disclosure of “personal and confidential information to third party telemarketers and direct mail marketers for a fee, to enable them to market services to plaintiffs”; the class action was coordinated with two similar class actions against the Bank, and a consolidated class action complaint was filed in 2003...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Hernandez v. Vitamin Shoppe: California Court Affirms Order Barring Attorney In One Class Action From Contacting Class Members In Related Class Action After Class Conditionally Certified In That Action
Posted on July 29, 2009As Matter of First Impression, Class Action Plaintiff Attorney Ethically Prohibited from Contacting Class Members in Class Action once Trial Court Conditionally Certifies Litigation as a Class Action and Appoints Class Counsel California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed three separate putative class action lawsuits against Vitamin Shoppe alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to pay employees overtime, or to provide meal and rest periods, as allowed by California law...
Class Action Defense Cases–Martorana v. Marlin & Saltzman: California Court Affirms Dismissal Of Claims Against Defendant And Class Counsel Arising From Class Action Settlement By Class Member Who Submitted An Untimely Claim
Posted on July 28, 2009Class Action Settlement Approved by Court Provided Procedure for Timely Submitting Claims for Benefits as part of Resolution of Labor Law Class Action, and Putative Class Member’s Negligence Claims against Class Action Defendant and Negligence/Malpractice Claims against Class Counsel Properly Dismissed because Defendant and Class Counsel Owed no Duty to Class Members to Ensure that they Timely Submitted Claims Forms California State Court Holds A putative class action was filed in California state court against Allstate Insurance Company (the Sekly action) alleging that the company failed to pay overtime wages to its claims adjusters in violation of California’s Labor Code, and seeking damages and related penalties; several years later, “the parties in the Sekly action agreed to a class action settlement totaling $1...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Vinole v. Countrywide: Ninth Circuit Affirms Order Granting Defense Motion To Deny Class Action Treatment To Labor Law Class Action
Posted on July 27, 2009District Court did not Err in Granting Defense Motion to Deny Class Action Certification in Labor Law Class Action because Rule 23 does not Preclude Defendants from Filing such Motions, Plaintiffs had Adequate Time to Conduct Discovery, and District Court did not Abuse its Discretion in Concluding Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance Requirement could not be Satisfied Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Countrywide Home Loans alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint alleged that defendant misclassified its 1,140 External Home Loan Consultants (HLCs) as “exempt” and, accordingly, failed to pay them overtime and other wages lawfully due non-exempt employees...
Labor Law Class Actions Retain Grip On Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on July 25, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
BofA Class Action Defense Cases—In re Bank of America: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on July 24, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Unopposed Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Thirty (30) individual and class action lawsuits were filed against Bank of America and other defendants arising out of “alleged misrepresentations and omissions made in the context of Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co...
Class Action Defense Cases–Steinberg v. Nationwide: New York Federal Court Awards Attorney Fees Following Class Action Settlement Using Lodestar Method And Applying 1.5 Multiplier
Posted on July 23, 2009Class Action Counsel Obtained Significant Benefit through Class Action Settlement Following 10-Year Litigation but Requested Multiplier was Excessive given Billing Rates of Class Counsel, Warranting Multiplier of 1.5 rather than 1.79 as Requested New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in New York state court against his automobile insurance company following its payment of insurance benefits that allegedly “did not reflect the amount that plaintiff, the insurance adjuster and the dealer had agreed upon...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Haro v. City of Rosemead: California Court Dismisses Appeal From Denial Of Class Action Treatment Of FLSA Class Action Complaint And Reaffirms FLSA Actions Not Subject To Class Action Treatment
Posted on July 22, 2009Putative Class Action Alleging Violations of Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) not Subject to Class Action Treatment because “Opt-In” Provision of FLSA Incompatible with “Opt-Out” Nature of California Class Action Lawsuits California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in California state court against the City of Rosemead alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); the class action complaint alleged that the City failed to pay nonexempt employees “for all hours worked...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Admiral Insurance v. Abshire: Fifth Circuit Affirms Remand Of Class Action Holding Amended Complaint Did Not Commence Civil Action Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)
Posted on July 21, 2009District Court did not Err in Remanding Class Action to State Court because Addition of Class Action Allegations to Ninth Amended Complaint did not Commence a Civil Action under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) and Addition of New Plaintiffs and Claims did not Commence a Civil Action under CAFA Fifth Circuit Holds In the early 1990s, plaintiffs, as purchasers of “life insurance policies, annuities, and corporate notes from three Louisiana companies” – Public Investors Life Insurance Co...
Wells Fargo Class Action Defense Cases–Mevorah v. Wells Fargo: Ninth Circuit Reverses Certification Of Labor Law Class Action Holding District Court Erred In Relying On Employer's Uniform Exemption Policy To Exclusion Of Other Factors
Posted on July 20, 2009Labor Law Class Action Certification Order Reversed because District Court Abused its Discretion in Relying on Wells Fargo’s Internal Policy of Treating Employees as Exempt “To the Near Exclusion of Other Relevant Factors Touching on Predominance” under Rule 23(b)(3) Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in California against their employer, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint – brought individually and on behalf of roughly 5000 other current and former Wells Fargo home mortgage consultants (HMCs), who market and sell mortgages – alleged defendant paid HMCs by sales commission until 2005, when “Wells Fargo changed the commission system to include a minimum, non-recoverable draw against commissions...
Extremely Light Week For California Class Action Lawsuits But Labor Law Class Actions Regain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on July 18, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Cox Enterprises: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To Western District Of Oklahoma
Posted on July 17, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, but Transfers Actions to Western District of Oklahoma Four class actions – two in Louisiana and one in Arizona and Georgia – were filed against various defendants, including Cox Enterprises, Cox Communications, Cox Communications Louisiana, Cox Communications New Orleans, and CoxCom (collectively “the Cox defendants”), together with an additional 14 potentially-related class action alleging antitrust violations; specifically, the class action complaints allege “that Cox improperly tied and bundled the lease of cable boxes to the ability to obtain premium cable services in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Johnson v. Arvin-Edison: California Court Affirms Dismissal Of Labor Law Class Action Against Water Storage District Holding Public Agency Exempt From State Labor Laws
Posted on July 16, 2009Labor Law Class Action Against Water Storage District Properly Dismissed by Trial Court because Water District Subject to Federal Labor Laws but not State Labor Laws California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in California state court against his employer, Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (the District), alleging violations of California’s labor code; the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to pay its employees overtime or to provide meal breaks required by California law...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re HealthSouth: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Class Action Settlement Of Securities Fraud Class Action Including Bar Order Impacting CEO’s Indemnity Agreement With Company
Posted on July 15, 2009Class Action Settlement Calling for Bar Order, Wiping Out Corporate Officer’s Indemnification Agreement and Advancement of Attorney Fees from Company Properly Approved by District Court Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against HealthSouth Corporation and others, including its former chairman and CEO Richard M...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re Neurontin: Massachusetts Federal Court Denies Class Action Certification In Class Action Complaint Arising Out Of Manufacture And Sale Of Prescription Drug Neurontin
Posted on July 14, 2009Class Action Plaintiffs’ Renewed Motion for Class Action Treatment Adequately Addressed District Court’s Concerns Regarding Rule 23(a)’s Requirements for Class Action Certification but Failed to Satisfy Predominance Prong of Rule 23(b)(3) Massachusetts Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs – consisting of consumers and third-party payors (TPPs) – filed a putative nationwide class action against Warner-Lambert and Pfizer arising out of defendants’ manufacture and distribution of the drug Neurontin; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants “systematically and knowingly engaged in a fraudulent campaign to market and sell Neurontin for treatment of ‘off-label’ indications – conditions for which the Federal Drug Administration (‘FDA’) had not approved Neurontin – even though defendants knew Neurontin was not effective for those conditions...
Class Action Defense Cases-Satterfield v. Simon & Schuster: Ninth Circuit Reverses Defense Summary Judgment In Class Action Holding Text Message Is A "Call" Under TCPA And Triable Issues Exist As To Class Action Plaintiff's Consent To Receive Text Message
Posted on July 13, 2009Summary Judgment in Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Class Action Improper because Text Message may Constitute a “Call” within the Meaning of TCPA and because Triable Issues of Material Fact Exist as to Whether Defendants were “Affiliates” of Nextones...
Very Heavy Two-Week Period For California Class Action Lawsuits And Labor Law Class Actions Drop To Second PlaceAmong Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on July 11, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Oral Sodium Phosphate: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District Of Ohio
Posted on July 10, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of 38 Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Ohio even though Only One of the Class Actions was Pending in that District Thirty-eight (38) class actions were filed against common defendant C...
Ford Class Action Defense Cases–Kearns v. Ford Motor: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Under California UCL/CLRA Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Satisfy Rule 9(b)’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on July 09, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) Properly Dismissed because Heightened Pleadings Requirements of Rule 9(b) for Fraud Applied to Allegations in Class Action Complaint and Plaintiff Failed to Allege Fraud with Requisite Specificity Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in California state court against Ford Motor and certain dealerships (collectively “Ford”) alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); specifically, the class action complaint ...
Class Action Defense Cases–Utility Consumers’ Action Network v. Sprint: California Federal Court Denies Nationwide Class Action Treatment To Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations Of California Laws
Posted on July 08, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of California State Laws not Entitled to Nationwide Class Action Treatment because Plaintiffs Failed to Establish that California Law Applies to Non-Residents or that Nationwide Class Action Treatment would be “Superior” Means of Adjudicating Dispute or that Trial of Nationwide Class Action would be Manageable California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative nationwide class action against Sprint Solutions and Sprint Spectrum (Sprint) alleging violations of various California consumer protection statutes; specifically, the class action complaint alleged inter alia claims under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL), Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and Public Utilities Code (for cramming), as well as under the Federal Communications Act, 47 U...
T-Mobile Class Action Defense Cases–Smith v. T-Mobile: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Appeal In Labor Law Class Action Holding Settlement Of Individual FLSA Claims Without Opt-In Plaintiffs Rendered Appeal Moot
Posted on July 07, 2009Settlement of State Labor Law Class Action and Federal Law FLSA Claims by Putative Class Action Plaintiffs, Following Denial of Conditional Certification of FLSA Collective Action and Before any Other Plaintiffs Agreed to Opt-In to Litigation, Rendered Moot Appeal from Denial of Motion for Conditional Certification Despite Effort to Preserve Right to Appeal Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs Mentha Smith and Justin Gossett, former sales representatives of T-Mobile, filed a putative class action against T-Mobile USA purportedly on behalf of 25,000 workers alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint “alleged that T-Mobile willfully failed to pay its hourly employees for all the hours they worked, forcing employees to work ‘off the clock’ and denying pay for hours worked during breaks...
Class Action Defense Cases–Arias v. Superior Court: California Supreme Court Holds Representative Actions Under UCL Must Comply With Class Action Requirements But Labor Law PAGA Representative Claims Need Not Meet Class Action Requirements
Posted on July 06, 2009Employee Representative Action Under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Must Satisfy Class Action Requirements, but Employee Representative Actions Seeking Penalties Under California Labor Code’s Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) Need Not Satisfy Class Action Requirements California Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against his former employer, Angelo Dairy, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint alleged causes of action for violations of the Labor Code, labor regulations, and an Industrial Welfare Commission wage order, for ...
HAPPY JULY 4th FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on July 04, 2009The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy Independence Day. The author has been on vacation but anticipates that new class action articles will be published next week.
Heavy Week For California Class Action Lawsuits But Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Dominance Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on June 27, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases–Walker v. Calumet City: Seventh Circuit Reverses Attorney Fee Award To Class Action Plaintiff Holding Dismissal Of Class Action As Moot Did Not Make Plaintiff Prevailing Party
Posted on June 25, 2009Class Action Plaintiff not Entitled to Attorney Fee Award under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 Following District Court Dismissal of Class Action as Moot because Plaintiff was not “Prevailing Party” within the Meaning of Supreme Court Authority Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Calumet City, Illinois, alleging that she suffered damage because the enforcement of a local ordinance interfered with her ability to sell real property that she owned in the City; the class action complaint alleged that “the ordinance violated her right to procedural due process and unreasonably restrained the alienability of her property...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–D'Este v. Bayer: Ninth Circuit On Class Action Appeal Certifies Two Questions To California Supreme Court As Central Issues In Numerous Federal Court Class Action Appeals
Posted on June 24, 2009Summary Judgment in Labor Law Class Action Turned on Issues of First Impression Recurrent in Federal Court Class Action Appeals, Warranting Referral of Questions Underlying Class Action to California Supreme Court for Resolution Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against her employer, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, in California state court alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that Bayer misclassified pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) as exempt employees, and accordingly failed to pay them overtime or provide them with meal breaks to which they would be entitled as non-exempt employees...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Thomas v. Bank of America: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Remand Of Class Action To State Court Holding Evidence Insufficient Of Amount In Controversy Under Class Action Fairness Act
Posted on June 23, 2009Class Action Improperly Removed to Federal Court under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) because Defendant Failed to Adequately Establish that the $5 Million Amount in Controversy Requirement Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in Georgia state court against Bank of America and its wholly-owned subsidiary FIA Card Services (collectively “BofA”) alleging insurance fraud, unfair and deceptive acts, bad faith, and violations of the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); the class action complaint was premised on the allegation that BofA “[sold] a bundled insurance product, known as Credit Protection Plus, to ineligible individuals...
Merck Class Action Defense Cases–In re Vioxx: California Trial Court Denies Class Action Certification Of Putative Class Action Complaint Against Merck Arising From Sale Of Vioxx
Posted on June 22, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Deceptive Marketing Practices in Sale of Vioxx not Entitled to Class Action Treatment because Individual Issues will Predominate over Common Questions of Law or Fact California State Trial Court Holds Various class action lawsuits against Merck were consolidated in the Los Angeles Superior Court under the title In re Vioxx Consolidated Cases; the class action lawsuits alleged that Merck knew of the cardiovascular dangers associated with Vioxx long before it voluntarily pulled it from the market...
Relatively Low Number Of New Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Filed But Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Hold On Top Spot Among Weekly Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on June 20, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actioins against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Staples: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of New Jersey
Posted on June 19, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to District of New Jersey Six class actions – two in Massachusetts and one each in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – were filed against Staples alleging violations of state and federal labor laws; specifically, the class action complaints allege that Staples failed to pay its assistant, operations and/or sales managers overtime pay under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and/or various state wage and hour statutes...
T-Mobile Class Action Defense Cases–Vega v. T-Mobile: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification Order And Orders Lawsuit To Proceed On Individual Rather Than Class Action Basis
Posted on June 18, 2009Class Action Certification Order of Labor Law Class Action must be Reversed because District Court Failed to Conduct “Rigorous Analysis” of Rule 23’s Requirements for Class Action Treatment Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative nationwide class action against his former employer, T-Mobile, after it fired him for poor attendance; the class action complaint alleged labor law violations...
Class Action Defense Cases–Ojo v. Farmers: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of FHA Class Action Holding Class Action Claims Not Reverse-Preempted And Class Action Did Not Challenge Credit Scoring Per Se
Posted on June 17, 2009Class Action Alleging Violations of Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) Claiming Insurer used “Undisclosed Factors” to Compute Credit Scores and, Based on those Scores, Increase Insurance Premiums of Minorities should not have been Dismissed because Class Action did not Challenge Credit Scoring Per Se and because Class Action Claims were not “Reverse-Preempted” by McCarran-Ferguson Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against various Farmers Group entities alleging violations of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged disparate impact race discrimination in that Farmers “used ‘a number of undisclosed factors’ to compute credit scores and price homeowners’ insurance policies...
Class Action Defense Cases–Olvera v. El Pollo Loco: California Court Affirms Denial Of Motion To Compel Individual Arbitration Of Labor Law Class Action Holding Class Action Arbitration Waiver Unenforceable
Posted on June 16, 2009Class Action Waiver in Arbitration Clause Unconscionable thereby Warranting Denial of Motion to Compel Plaintiff to Arbitrate Individual Claims rather than Pursue Labor Law Class Action Complaint California State Court Holds Plaintiff, the general manager of an El Pollo Loco restaurant, filed a putative class action against El Pollo Loco alleging violations of California’s labor code; the class action complaint alleged inter alia that defendant misclassified its general managers as exempt when they “spent the majority of their time performing nonmanagerial tasks” and that it wrongfully denied its general managers overtime compensation and meal breaks...
Starbucks Class Action Defense Cases–Chau v. Starbucks: California Appellate Court Reverses $86 Million Class Action Judgment Against Starbucks Holding Labor Law Class Action Claims Failed
Posted on June 15, 2009Trial Court Judgment in Class Action Alleging Starbucks Violated Labor Code by Sharing Tips with Shift Supervisors Required Reversal because California Law does not Prohibit Starbucks’ Shift Supervisors from Sharing in Tips California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Starbucks alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Labor Code; the class action complaint alleged that Starbucks alleged shift supervisors to participate in tip pools in violation of California law, specifically Labor Code section 351...
New Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on June 13, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Payless ShoeSource: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District Of California
Posted on June 12, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of California Two class actions – one in Central District of California and one in the Eastern District of California – were filed against Payless ShoeSource alleging violations of California’s Song-Beverly Act; specifically, the class action complaints allege that Payless “requests and records customers’ personal identification information in violation of California Civil Code § 1747...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Marshall v. H & R Block: Seventh Circuit Reverses Remand Of Class Action To State Court Holding Potential Increase In Liability Rendered Class Action Removable Under CAFA
Posted on June 10, 2009District Court Erred in Remanding Class Action to State Court because Decertification Order and Dismissal of Co-Defendants Substantially Increased Remaining Defendant’s Liability such that Amended Class Action Complaint did not “Relate Back” to Original Class Action Complaint, Rendering Class Action Removable under Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA) Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Illinois state court against various H & R Block companies alleging violations of the state’s Consumer Fraud Act; the class action complaint alleged that defendants “had used deceptive practices to sell ‘Peace of Mind’ insurance against mistakes by H & R Block that increased customers’ tax liabilities...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–Barber v. Chase: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of TILA Class Action Holding “Buried” Disclosures Did Not As A Matter Of Law Comply With TILA
Posted on June 09, 2009Lender’s Disclosures that APR may Increase based on Information in Credit Report not Clear and Conspicuous Within Meaning of TILA so District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action Complaint Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Chase Bank alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder; the class action complaint alleged that plaintiffs “have been the victims of a practice they now call ‘adverse action repricing,’ which apparently means ‘raising ...
BofA Class Action Defense Cases–Miller v. Bank of America: California Supreme Court Upholds Reversal Of Class Action Judgment Holding Banks May Offset Overdraft/NSF Fees Against Public Benefit Deposits
Posted on June 08, 2009$360 Million-Plus Class Action Judgment Against Bank of America Properly Reversed by Court of Appeal because Offsetting Overdraft and Insufficient Funds Fees Against Public Benefit Deposits (such as SSI Benefits) does not Violate State Law California Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Bank of America alleging, inter alia, violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); the class action complained that BofA improperly offset Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from bank accounts to cover sums owed the bank...
Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Dominance Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on June 06, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Bayer Class Action Defense Cases—In re Bayer Aspirin: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motions To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District Of New York
Posted on June 05, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by Only One Group Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of New York Eight class actions – four in New Jersey, two in Illinois and one each in California and New York – were filed against Bayer and various other defendants challenging “Bayer’s marketing and sale of Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage or Bayer Women’s Low-Dose Aspirin Plus Calcium, or both...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Rynearson v. Motricity: Washington Federal Court Remands Class Action Complaint To State Court Holding Defense Failed To Establish Amount In Controversy Under CAFA
Posted on June 04, 2009Motion to Remand Class Action to State Court Granted because $5 Million Amount in Controversy Required by Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) not Established because “Cost” of Complying with Possible Injunction not Sufficient to Support Removal Jurisdiction Washington Federal Court Holds Plaintiff, a citizen of Florida, filed a class action in Washington state court against Motricity, a Delaware corporation with its principle place of business in Washington; the class action complaint alleged that Motricity, which “represents providers of mobile content in dealing with wireless carriers whose networks and billing services the providers use” and “receives a fee per content transaction billed to cellular telephone users,” violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act by “placing unauthorized charges for mobile content on customers' bills...
Class Action Defense Cases–Williams v. Mohawk Industries: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Denial Of Class Action Treatment Of RICO Complaint And Remands For Further Consideration Of Class Action Certification
Posted on June 03, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of State and Federal RICO laws based on Employer’s Conspiracy to Hire Illegal Workers and Depress Wages of Legal Workers Satisfied Rule 23(a)’s Commonality and Typicality Class Action Requirements, and Requires Further Analysis by District Court as to Whether Rule 23(b)(3)’s Class Action Requirements had been Met Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their employer, Mohawk Industries, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that defendant conspired with various temporary employment agencies to hire illegal aliens and depress wages...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Tanoh v. Dow Chemical: Ninth Circuit Holds State Lawsuits With Less Than 100 People Not Removable Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Because Total Number Of Plaintiffs Cannot Be Combined
Posted on June 02, 2009Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), which Authorizes Removal of Class Actions and Treats Certain “Mass Actions” as Class Actions for Purposes of Removal, does not Allow Defendant to Combine Plaintiffs from Separate State Court Lawsuits in Order to Satisfy Numerosity Requirement for Removal Ninth Circuit Holds Seven lawsuits were filed in California state court by 664 plaintiffs against Dow Chemical and others alleging that they were exposed to a Dow chemical product “while working on banana and pineapple plantations” in villages on the Ivory Coast; the lawsuits alleged the chemical exposure caused “a host of serious and permanent injuries…, including sterility and infertility...
Class Action Defense Cases–Simon-Whelan v. The Andy Warhol Foundation: New York Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Class Action Alleging Antitrust Violations In Authentication Of Warhol Works Of Art
Posted on June 01, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Various Defendants Conspired to Wrongfully Deny Authenticity of Warhol Paintings Survives Defense Motion to Dismiss New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (a not-for-profit charitable trust), the Estate of Andy Warhol (which was valued at $400 million and which originally owned 100,000 Warhol works of art), Vincent Fremont (the exclusive sales agent for the Foundation’s Warhol paintings) individually and in his capacity as Successor Executor of the Estate, Vincent Fremont Enterprises and the Andy Warhol Authentication Board (a not-for profit corporation responsible for authenticating the works of Andy Warhol) alleging inter alia violations of state and federal antitrust laws; the class action complaint asserted that defendants conspired to control the market for Warhol works...
Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Lead List Of Weekly Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 30, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Satyam: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on May 29, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Other Class Action Plaintiffs or by Common Defendants, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Six class actions – one in California and five in New York – were filed against Orleans Homebuilders and OHB Homes alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaints “arise from a purported massive financial scandal involving common defendant Satyam Computer Services, Ltd...
Securities Fraud Class Action Defense Cases–In re Zumiez: Washington Federal Court Dismisses Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Allegations In Class Action Complaint Insufficient Under PSRLA
Posted on May 28, 2009Allegations in Securities Fraud Class Action Failed to Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Warranting Dismissal with Prejudice of Class Action Complaint Washington Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Zumiez and three individual defendants alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint asserted that defendants “engaged in a scheme to defraud shareholders by making materially false and misleading statements by making false and misleading statements and engaging in insider trading...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re DC Water & Sewer: District Of Columbia Circuit Denies Permission To Appeal Class Action Certification Order As "Blatantly Untimely" And Criticizes Defendant And Defense Counsel For Filing Petition
Posted on May 27, 2009Petition under Rule 23(f) for Permission to Appeal Class Action Certification Order Untimely and that Defendant and its Counsel “Would File – and Attempt to Justify – such a Blatantly Untimely Petition” is “Troubling” District of Columbia Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against DC Water and Sewer Authority (WA SA) alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the class action complaint asserted that WASA engaged in acts of discrimination in the hiring and promotion of employees...
WaMu Class Action Defense Cases–In re Washington Mutual: Washington Federal Court Dismisses Majority Of Securities Fraud Class Action Claims Finding 400-Page 1000-Paragraph Class Action Complaint Lacked Specificity
Posted on May 26, 2009Sheer Size of Class Action Complaint for Securities Fraud Violations did not Defeat Motions to Dismiss because Class Action Allegations were “Verbose” but “Disordered” and Required “More Definite Statement” Washington Federal Court Holds Three class action complaints were filed against dozens of defendants alleging securities fraud in connection with Washington Mutual home lending business; specifically, the class actions alleged violations of §§ 10(b) and 20(a) of the 1934 Securities and Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated under § 10(b), and under §§ 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the 1933 Securities Act...
Class Action Defense Cases–Baum v. AstraZeneca: Pennsylvania Federal Court Grants Defense Summary Judgment Motion In Labor Law Class Action Holding Plaintiff Properly Classified As Exempt From Overtime Pay
Posted on May 25, 2009Labor Law Class Action Challenging Defendant’s Classification of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives as Exempt from Overtime Laws Dismissed on Defense Motion for Summary Judgment because Plaintiff Fell within Outside Sales Exemption Pennsylvania Federal Court Holds Plaintiff, a pharmaceutical sales representative, filed a class action in Pennsylvania state court against her employer, AstraZeneca, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that defendant improperly classified her as “exempt” and failed to pay her overtime required by Pennsylvania law...
Surge In Class Action Complaints Filed In California State And Federal Courts Led By ADA Class Actions But Labor Law Actions Continue To Top List Of New Class Action Lawsuits Filed In Past Week
Posted on May 23, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Aetna: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of New Jersey
Posted on May 22, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by Plaintiffs in One of the Class Actions, and Transfers Actions to District of New Jersey Two class actions – one in Connecticut and one in New Jersey – were filed against Aetna and affiliated entities, and other defendants (including Ingenix and its parent UnitedHealth Group), challenging Aetna’s “policies and practices for reimbursing its plan members’ visits to health care providers that are not part of the Aetna network,” that is, to “nonparticipating” or “out-of-network” providers...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Lemire v. Wolpoff & Abramson: Connecticut Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment To FDCPA Class Action Against Law Firm
Posted on May 21, 2009Class Action Against Law Firm Alleging Violations of Debt Collection Laws Warranted Class Action Treatment over Defense Challenge to Adequacy of Representation based on Claim that Class Action was Filed by “Professional Plaintiff” and over Challenge to Superiority Prong of Rule 23(b)(3) Class Action Certification Test based on Negative Net Worth of Defendant and FDCPA’s 1% Net Worth Cap on Liability Connecticut Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against the law firm of Wolpoff & Abramson alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)...
AT&T Class Action Defense Cases--AT&T v. Hulteen: Supreme Court Holds Employer Does Not Violate Pregnancy Discrimination Act By Paying Pension Benefits Calculated Under Pre-PDA Accrual Rule Giving Less Retirement Credit For Pregnancy Than Medical Leave
Posted on May 20, 2009Class Action Failed to Allege Discrimination Against Employer that Calculated Pension Benefits under Pre-Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) Rules, Lawful at the Time, that Gave Less Retirement Credit to Pregnancy Leave than for Medical Leave Supreme Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against AT&T alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the class action complaint asserted that defendant discriminated against employees on the basis of sex and pregnancy by providing pension and other benefits on a seniority system that treated pregnancy differently from other medical conditions...
Securities Fraud Class Action Defense Cases–Vladimir v. Bioenvision: New York Federal Court Grants Motion To Dismiss Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements Of PSLRA
Posted on May 19, 2009Defense Motion to Dismiss Securities Fraud Class Action Granted because Defendants had no Duty to Disclose Merger Discussions Prior before Definitive Merger Agreement Reached and because Anonymous Source Insufficient to Satisfy Heightened Pleading Requirements of PSLRA (Private Securities Litigation Reform Act) New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Bioenvision and certain officers and directors, and Perseus-Soros Biopharmaceutical Fund (Bioenvision’s largest pre-merger shareholder) alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint alleged violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against Perseus-Soros under section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and against the individual defendants and Perseus-Soros under section 20(a)...
Prop 64 Class Action Defense Cases–In re Tobacco II: California Supreme Court “Turns Class Action Law Upside Down” And Holds UCL Class Actions May Be Certified Even If Class Members Lack Standing To File Suit In Own Name
Posted on May 19, 2009Class Actions Alleging Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) may be Certified as a Class Action even if Putative Class Members Lack Standing to Prosecute UCL Claims in Their Own Name, but Class Representative Alleging Misrepresentation as Basis of UCL Class Action Claim must Demonstrate Actual Reliance on the Defendant’s Allegedly Deceptive or Misleading Statements California Supreme Court Holds A class action lawsuit was filed in California state court against various tobacco industry defendants alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL); specifically, the class action complaint asserted that defendants “conduct[ed] a decades-long campaign of deceptive advertising and misleading statements about the addictive nature of nicotine and the relationship between tobacco use and disease...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–Frazier v. Accredited Home Lenders: Alabama Federal Court Grants Lender’s Summary Judgment Motion In TILA Class Action
Posted on May 18, 2009Lender Motion for Summary Judgment as to Class Action Claims Alleging Lender Violated TILA and HOEPA Properly Granted because Disclosed Finance Charges Fell within TILA’s Tolerance for Accuracy and because HOEPA did not Apply as Transaction was not High-Cost Loan Alabama Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Accredited Home Lenders, dba Home Funds Direct, alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA), which requires additional disclosures be made in connection with “high cost” loans; the class action complaint asserted that her lender “improperly understated the finance charge on credit it extended to her” and “failed t comply with the additional disclosure requirements” of HOEPA...
Labor Law Actions Continue To Top List Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts But With Comparatively Low Percentage Of New Class Action Filings
Posted on May 16, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Wal-Mart/Netflix Class Action Defense Cases—In re Online DVD Rental: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District Of California
Posted on May 15, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Supported by Common Class Action Defendants and by Vast Majority of Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Class Actions to Northern District of California Twelve class actions – eleven in the Northern District of California and one in the Western District of Washington – were filed against Wal-Mart and Netflix alleging violations of antitrust laws; specifically, the class action complaints allege “defendants conspired to divide the online DVD rental market in violation of federal antitrust laws...
3M Class Action Defense Cases–Whitaker v. 3M: Minnesota State Court Grants Class Action Treatment To Labor Law Class Action Against 3M Alleging Age Discrimination
Posted on May 15, 2009Labor Law Class Action Against 3M Alleging Age Discrimination Warranted Class Action Certification Minnesota State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his employer, 3M, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that 3M discriminated against employees on the basis of age with respect to leadership development opportunities, promotion decisions, compensation decisions, and job eliminations...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases–Leysoto v. Mama Mia: Florida Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment Of FACTA Class Action Because Potential Liability Vastly Disproportionate To Actual Damages Suffered By Putative Class
Posted on May 14, 2009FACTA Class Action Seeking $4.6 Million to $46 Million in Statutory Damages from Restaurant with Net Worth of $40,000 did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Class Action not “Superior” Method of Resolving Dispute Florida Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Florida state court against Mama Mia, “a local restaurant in Hollywood, Florida, with approximately $40,000 in net assets”; the class action alleged that defendant violated the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), which requires that merchants truncate credit card and debit card numbers on electronically-printed customer receipts...
Mercedes-Benz Class Action Defense Cases–In re Mercedes-Benz: New Jersey Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment To Class Action Claims For Unjust Enrichment And Consumer Fraud Based On Analog-Based Tele Aid Sales
Posted on May 13, 2009Nationwide Class Action Complaint Alleging Unjust Enrichment and Violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act Claims Warranted Class Action Treatment because Sale by Mercedes of Analog-Based Tele Aid Systems Involved Common Issues that Predominated over Individual Issues and because Balance of Rule 23’s Requirements for Class Action Certification had been Satisfied New Jersey Federal Court Holds Ten separate class action lawsuits were filed in six different states against Mercedes-Benz and other defendants arising from vehicles equipped with the “Tele Aid” emergency response system; Mercedes-Benz moved the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate the class action complaints for pretrial purposes, pursuant to 28 U...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Hannaford Bros. v. Sprint: First Circuit Affirms Remand Of Class Action Holding Home State Exception To CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) Jurisdiction Applies
Posted on May 12, 2009Class Action on Behalf of Florida Citizens Against Florida Corporation, Removed to Federal Court under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), Properly Remanded to State Court because Home State Exception to CAFA Jurisdiction Applies First Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in Florida state court against Kash N’ Karry Food Stores (a chain of grocery stores in Florida) alleging “alleging that Kash N' Karry had failed to adopt adequate security measures to protect its customers' credit card information...
McDonald’s Class Action Defense Cases–In re McDonald’s French Fries: Illinois Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment Of Consumer Fraud Class Action Complaint Because Individual Issues Predominate Over Common Issues
Posted on May 11, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Consumer Fraud/Deceptive Practices Based on Alleged Misrepresentation by McDonald’s as to Whether its Potato Products Contained Certain Allergens did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Individual Issues Predominate Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a nationwide class action against McDonald’s alleging “violations of all of the fifty states’ and the District of Columbia’s consumer fraud and/or deceptive trade practices acts, breach of express warranty, and unjust enrichment”; the class action complaint asserted that plaintiffs suffer from “certain medical conditions” and were deceived by McDonald’s as to the ingredients contained in its french fries and hash browns...
Unusually High Number Of New Class Actions Filed But Labor Law Class Actions Retain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 09, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Bayer: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motions To Centralize Class Action Litigation And Transfers Class Action To Eastern District Of New York
Posted on May 08, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Separate Requests for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Supported by Defendants, and Transfers Class Actions to Eastern District of New York Eight class actions – four in New Jersey, two in Illinois and one each in California and New York – were filed against various Bayer defendants “arising from Bayer’s marketing and sale of Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage or Bayer Women’s Low-Dose Aspirin Plus Calcium, or both...
Bankruptcy Class Action Defense Cases–in re Bally Total Fitness: New York Bankruptcy Court Denies Motions By Class Action Plaintiffs To Permit Class Proof Of Claim, To Certify Class Actions Or To Lift Stay
Posted on May 07, 2009Motions by Plaintiffs in Class Actions Asserting Labor Law Violations Denied because Class Action Device not “Superior” means of Resolving Employees’ Claims given Bankruptcy Proceeding and because Lifting Stay to Allow Class Action Litigation to Proceed would Waste Defendants’ Resources and Distract from Reorganization Efforts New York Bankruptcy Court Holds Certain putative class action lawsuits were filed against Bally Total Fitness, which subsequently filed a petition for bankruptcy protection...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases–Harris v. Mexican Specialty: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of FACTA Class Actions Holding FCRA's Statutory-Damages Provision Not Unconstitutional
Posted on May 06, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing FACTA Class Actions based on Conclusion that FCRA’s Statutory-Damages Provision was Unconstitutional Facially and As-Applied, Requiring Reversal of Court Order and Reinstatement of Class Actions Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed two separate class action complaints against Mexican Specialty Foods and Rave Motion Pictures alleging violations of the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), which is part of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); the class action complaints asserted that the defendants willfully violated FACTA by providing customers with “electronically-generated receipt[s] [that] included more than the last five digits of the customer's card number and/or its expiration date...
MetLife Class Action Defense Cases–Beavers v. Metropolitan Life: Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint’s Claims Were Time-Barred
Posted on May 05, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Breach of Contract Against MetLife Properly Dismissed because Four-Year Statute of Limitations Expired Long Before Plaintiffs Filed Class Action Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their life insurer, Metropolitan Life, for breach of contract...
Quiznos Class Action Defense Cases–Harlow v. Sprint: Colorado Federal Denies Grants Class Action Treatment Of Class Action Complaint By Prospective Franchisees Against Quiznos Because Of Class Action Bar In Agreement
Posted on May 04, 2009Class Action Bar in Franchise Agreement Precluded Class Action Certification of Lawsuit by Franchisees Against Quiznos because Class Action Bar was not Unconscionable under Colorado Law Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against various Quiznos entities and others (collectively “Quiznos”) alleging defendants misled prospective franchisees; the class action complaint asserted that it was only after plaintiffs signed 30-page franchise agreements that defendants revealed the restaurant locations were “not as profitable as Quiznos had promised...
New Labor Law Class Action Filings Again Seize Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal
Posted on May 02, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
MDL Class Action Defense Cases—In re Staples: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of New Jersey
Posted on May 01, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Class Actions to District of New Jersey Six class actions – two in Massachusetts, and one each in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – were filed against Staples alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaints allege “that Staples assistant, operations and/or sales managers are entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act and/or various state wage and hour statutes...
Class Action Settlement Cases–In re Touch America: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Appeal Seeking Review Of District Court Order Rejecting Proposed Class Action Settlement Holding Circuit Court Lacked Jurisdiction Over Appeal
Posted on April 30, 2009District Court Order Rejecting Proposed Class Action Settlement of ERISA Class Action as Unfair not Appealable Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, employees of Montana Power and participants in the company’s retirement plan (the “Plan”), filed a class action against the Plan’s trustee and against directors of Montana Power alleging violations of ERISA; the class action complaint asserted that defendants breached fiduciary duties owed to Plan participants and mismanaged the Plan...
Ford Class Action Defense Cases–Cuesta v. Ford Motor: Oklahoma Supreme Court Reinstates Class Action Certification Order Holding Trial Court Did Not Abuse Discretion In Certifying Class Action
Posted on April 29, 2009Products Liability Class Action Properly Certified as Class Action with Respect to Breach of Warranty Claim and Appellate Court Erred in Reversing Class Action Certification Order Oklahoma Supreme Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Ford Motor and Williams Control for product liability; the class action complaint asserted claims based on “design and/or manufacturing defects in the fixed, non-adjustable accelerator pedal, i...
Starbucks Class Action Defense Cases–Reed v. Starbucks: Florida Federal Court Grants Conditional Class Action Treatment To Labor Law Class Action Against Starbucks Alleging Misclassification Of Store Managers And Failure To Pay Overtime
Posted on April 28, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) based on Misclassification of Store Managers and Consequent Failure to Pay Overtime Satisfied First-Tier’s “Lenient Standard” for Conditional Class Action Certification Florida Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Starbucks alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); the class action complaint asserted that Starbucks misclassified him (and other store managers) as exempt and failed to pay him overtime...
Class Action Defense Settlement Cases–Rodriguez v. West Publishing: Ninth Circuit Affirms Approval Of Class Action Settlement Of Antitrust Class Action But Remands For Further Consideration Of Incentive And Attorney Fee Awards
Posted on April 27, 2009District Court Approval of Antitrust Class Action Settlement did not Require Reversal due to Conflict of Interest with Certain Class Representatives because Other Class Representatives did not Share Conflict so Error was Harmless Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against West Publishing and Kaplan alleging antitrust violations; the class action complaint asserted that individuals who purchased BAR/BRI courses from defendants to prepare for bar examinations paid more than they should have because of defendants’ anticompetitive conduct...
Slow Week For Class Action Filings But Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 25, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Song-Beverly Class Action Defense Cases—In re Payless ShoeSource: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District Of California
Posted on April 24, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of California Two class actions were filed in the Central and Eastern Districts of California against Payless ShoeSource alleging violations of California’s Song-Beverly Credit Card Act; specifically, the class action complaints allege that “Payless requests and records customers’ personal identification information in violation of California Civil Code § 1747...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Asset Acceptance v. Hanson: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of FDCPA Class Action Claims Holding Debt Collector Not Obligated To Inform Debtors That Debts Were Time-Barred
Posted on April 23, 2009As a Matter of First Impression, Credit Card Debtor’s Class Action Cross-Complaint Alleging Violations of California’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Rosenthal Act) Properly Dismissed on Demurrer for Failure to Define an Ascertainable Class and because Debt Collector was not Obligated to Disclose to Debtors that Debts Sought to be Collected were Time-Barred California State Court Holds Plaintiff Asset Acceptance filed a lawsuit against debtor Lilia Hanson to collect on a $1300 credit card debt; the debtor filed a putative class action cross-complaint against Asset alleging that it violated California’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“the Rosenthal Act”), which incorporates the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and Unfair Competition Law (UCL)...
Class Action Defense Cases–Budrow v. Dave & Buster's: California State Court Affirms Defense Judgment In Labor Law Class Action Holding California Law Does Not Prohibit Sharing Tip Pools With Employees That Do Not "Directly Serve" Tables
Posted on April 22, 2009Trial Court Properly Granted Defense Motion for Summary Judgment in Class Action Alleging Violation of California Labor Code by Sharing Tip Pools with Non-Managerial Employees that only "Indirectly Service" Tables because California Law does not Impose "Direct Table Service" Requirement on Participation in Tip Pools California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in California state court against, their employer, Dave & Buster’s, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint was premised “on the theory that distributions from the ‘tip pool’ to persons who did not provide direct table service violated [California] Labor Code section 351...
Countrywide Class Action Defense Cases–In re Countrywide: California Federal Court Grants In Part Motion To Dismiss Securities Fraud Class Action Claims And Holds SEC Rule 430B Not Retroactive
Posted on April 21, 2009Amended Securities Fraud Class Action Complaint Against Countrywide and Various other Defendants Largely Survives Motion to Dismiss because Allegations in Class Action Complaint Generally Satisfied Heightened Pleading Requirements of Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) and, as Matter of First Impression, SEC Rule 430B is not Retroactive California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Countrywide and certain individual defendants alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action was one of “several related securities actions” in the district court involving Countrywide, underwriter defendants and outside directors...
Class Action Defense Cases–Lorenzo v. Qualcomm: California Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Finding Plaintiff Lacked Standing To Prosecute Class Action’s Antitrust Claims But Gives Plaintiff Leave To Amend
Posted on April 20, 2009Class Action Challenging Qualcomm’s Licensing Practices as Anticompetitive Dismissed for Lack of Standing because Plaintiff’s Injury was Too Remote and because California does not Recognize Claim for Common Law Monopoly or for Unjust Enrichment California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Qualcomm alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that Qualcomm “is the second-biggest maker of mobile-phone chips and holds more than 1,400 patents which it licenses to more than 130 companies, including chip makers and cell phone manufacturers,” that Qualcomm exercises “monopoly power” over cell phones using CDMA technology, and that Qualcomm engages in various acts that decrease competition and increase costs to consumers...
Class Actions Involving Labor Law Claims GainTop Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 18, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Lawnmower Engine: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To Eastern District Of Wisconsin
Posted on April 17, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, but Orders Class Actions Transferred to Eastern District of Wisconsin, Where none of the Class Actions had been Filed Twenty-three (23) class actions were filed in 18 federal district courts against numerous defendants, including inter alia Sears, Roebuck and Co...
Class Action Defense Cases–Martis v. Grinnell Mutual: Illinois State Court Reverses Class Action Certification And Orders Class Action Complaint Dismissed Because Medical Provider Not Third Party Beneficiary Of Insurance Policy
Posted on April 16, 2009As Matter of First Impression, Class Action Complaint Against Insurance Company Alleging Breach of Contract for Paying Discounted PPO Rate to Medical Providers Without a PPO Contract with Insurer did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Class Action Failed as a Matter of Law as Medical Providers are not Third Party Beneficiaries of Workers’ Compensation Policies and no Exception Applied Illinois State Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff, a chiropractor, filed a class action in Illinois state court against Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company alleging violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, conspiracy, unjust enrichment and breach of contract; the class action complaint arose out of defendant’s decision to pay plaintiff a discounted amount for his treatment of a patient...
Class Action Defense Cases–Beer v. XTO Energy: Oklahoma Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment To Class Action Against Defendant Improperly Calculated Royalty Payments
Posted on April 15, 2009Class Action Complaint Challenging Defendant’s Calculation of Royalty Payments based on Inter-Company Sale of Gas to Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Warranted Class Action Treatment Oklahoma Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, royalty owners, filed a class action in state court against XTO Energy seeking an accounting of gas produced by certain wells in Texas County, Oklahoma; the class action complaint requested “the legal right to receive a royalty calculated by [XTO]…regarding production from a well in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas...
Settlement of Class Actions–Chindarah v. Pick Up Stix: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of Labor Law Class Action Holding Settlements Accepted By Individual Employees Covered By Putative Class Action Complaint Were Enforceable
Posted on April 14, 2009As Matter of First Impression, Class Action Complaint Alleging Labor Law Violations and Challenging Releases Signed by Employees within Putative Class Action under Direct Settlements Offered by Employer Following Failure to Settle with Named Plaintiffs in Class Action Properly Subject to Summary Judgment because Releases Executed by Members of Class Action were Enforceable California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their former employer, Pick Up Stix, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to pay its employees overtime and misclassified employees as exempt from overtime pay...
FCRA Class Action Defense Cases–Harris v. Mexican Specialty Foods: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of FACTA Class Actions Holding FCRA’s Statutory Damage Provision Not Unconstitutional On Its Face
Posted on April 13, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing FACTA Class Action Complaints on Grounds that Statutory Damages Awardable under FCRA were Unconstitutional Facially and As-Applied because As-Applied Challenge not Ripe and because Statute not Unconstitutional on its Face in part because Members of Class Actions may have Suffered Actual Damages Eleventh Circuit Holds Two separate class action lawsuits were filed, one against Mexican Specialty Foods and one against Rave Motion Pictures, alleging violations of the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), which is part of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); specifically, the class action complaints asserted that defendants willfully violated FACTA by including more than the last 5 digits of a customer’s credit or debit card number and/or its expiration date on customer receipts, and sought both statutory damages and punitive damages...
Labor Law And Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Class Actions Monopolize Categories Of New Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts During Past Week
Posted on April 11, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re The Reserve Fund: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Posted on April 10, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of Pennsylvania Sixteen (16) class actions – 13 in New York, and one each in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota – were filed against Primary Fund, The Reserve and various related Reserve entities, and other defendants, alleging “relief under various federal securities laws and/or common law or a shareholder suing derivatively on behalf of the Primary Fund...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Authentidate Holding: New York Federal Court Grants Motion To Dismiss Securities Class Action Holding Class Action Allegations Failed To Satisfy PSLRA
Posted on April 09, 2009Securities Class Action Warranted Dismissal with Prejudice because Allegations in Second Amended Class Action Complaint Failed to Establish Duty to Disclose New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Authentidate Holding Corporation and individual defendants (collectively “Authentidate”) alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint asserted that defendants “failed to make proper disclosures regarding performance metrics in an agreement (‘the Agreement’) the Company had with the United States Postal Service to serve as the preferred provider of the Postal Service’s electronic postmark (‘EPM’), thereby artificially inflating the price of Authentidate common stock in order to, inter alia, attract capital and avoid insolvency...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Akerman v. Arotech: New York Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Securities Fraud Class Action Finding Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged Materiality, Scienter And Particularity
Posted on April 08, 2009Securities Fraud Class Action Survives Motion to Dismiss because Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged that Defendants Failed to Timely Discover and/or Disclose Material Adverse Information New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Arotech Corporation, a defense contractor, and three of its officers alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint violations Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, and seeking to hold the individual defendants liable as “control persons” under Section 20(a) of the Act...
Cintas Class Action Defense Cases–Serrano v. Cintas: Michigan Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment Of Labor Law Class Action Against Cintas Holding Commonality, Typicality And Adequacy Of Representation Elements Not Met
Posted on April 07, 2009Labor Law Class Actions did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Hiring Process Involved too many Individual Questions to Meet Requirements for Class Action Certification under Rule 23 Michigan Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed two separate class actions against Cintas Corporation, a company that provides uniforms and other supplies to various businesses across the United States, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaints asserted that Cintas discriminated against employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act...
Class Action Defense Cases–Cole v. Asarco: Oklahoma Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment Of Class Action Seeking Medical Monitoring And Finds Proposed Property Owner Class Did Not Define A Cognizable Class
Posted on April 06, 2009Class Action Certification not Warranted where Putative Class Action Complaint Prayed for Medical Monitoring of Individuals who had “Disavowed” any Present Injury and where Proposed Definition of Property Owner Class was not Administratively Feasible Oklahoma Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various defendants, including Asarco Incorporated and Gold Fields Mining, alleging nuisance and praying for medical monitoring of individuals covered by the class action; the class action complaint asserted that defendants mined lead and zinc along a 40-square mile stretch of Tar Creek in Oklahoma, and that the byproducts caused by that mining activity “caused air, surface and ground water and soil contamination of [plaintiffs’] property, exposing residents to unsafe levels of lead, heavy metals and other toxins...
Labor Law Class Actions Maintain Grip On Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 04, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Regions Morgan Keegan: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Western District of Tennessee
Posted on April 03, 2009Over Objection of Three Class Action Plaintiffs, Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of 20 Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 (Excepting One Class Action from Centralization Order) and Transfers Class Actions to Western District of Tennessee Twenty-one (21) class actions – 18 in the Western District of Tennessee, and one class action each in the Northern District of Alabama, the Southern District of Indiana and the Middle District of Tennessee – were filed against Regions Financial Corp...
Class Action Defense Cases–Love v. Blue Cross: Florida Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss RICO Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Satisfy Rule 9(b)’s Pleading Requirements
Posted on April 02, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of RICO Failed to Satisfy Heightened Pleading Requirements of Rule 9(b) Thus Warranting Dismissal Florida Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, a group of doctors, filed a putative class action against certain health insurance companies alleging that defendants violated RICO in that they “conspired to inflate profits by systematically denying, delaying, and diminishing payments due to them as physicians...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Downey: California Federal Court Dismisses Securities Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Adequately Plead Actionable Misrepresentations By Individual Defendants
Posted on April 01, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Securities Laws Violations Failed to Satisfy Heightened Pleading Requirements of Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSRLA) California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Downey Financial and certain current and former officers and directors alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint asserted that defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10(b)-5, and of Section 20(a) of the Act...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–McCoy v. Chase: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of TILA Class Action Holding Lender Must Give Notice Of Interest Rate Increase Based On Late Payments To Other Creditor
Posted on March 31, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing TILA Class Action because Regulation Z Required Lender to Notify Credit Card Holder of Increase in Interest Rate Based on Late Payments to Other Creditor Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Chase Manhattan Bank alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA); the class action complaint asserted that Chase violated TILA by “increase[ing] his interest rates retroactively to the beginning of his payment cycle after his account was closed to new transactions as a result of a late payment to Chase or another creditor,” but failing to give him notice of the increase until after it had already taken effect...
Class Action Defense Cases–Sanchez v. Western Pizza: California State Court Affirms Trial Court Order Denying Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Complaint And Compel Arbitration Holding Class Action Waiver And Arbitration Agreement Unenforceable
Posted on March 30, 2009Trial Court Order Denying Defense Motion to Dismiss Labor Law Class Action and Compel Arbitration of Individual Claim based on Class Action Waiver in Unsigned Arbitration Agreement Proper because Class Action Waiver Unenforceable as Contrary to Public Policy California State Court Holds Plaintiff, a delivery driver for a Domino’s Pizza owned by Western Pizza, filed a putative class action Western Pizza alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted inter alia that defendant failed to reimburse its drivers for business expenses, and failed to pay minimum wage or provide itemized wage statements...
Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Labor Law Violations Retain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 28, 2009As a resource for California attorneys who defend class action lawsuits, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Land Rover LR3: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Central District of California
Posted on March 27, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Objection of Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Central District of California Eight class actions – three in California and one each in Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington and Wisconsin – were filed against Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC alleging that “geometry alignment defect that causes uneven and premature tire wear on model year 2005 and 2006 Land Rover LR3s...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Del Campo v. American Corrective Counseling: California Federal Court Certifies FDCPA Class Action Finding Attack On Practices Used To Collect On Bounced Checks Warranted Class Action Treatment
Posted on March 26, 2009Class Action Alleging FDCPA Violations Arising from Collection Practices Utilized to Collect from Check Writers of Bounced Checks Satisfied Rule 23 Requirements for Class Action Treatment California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various defendants, including American Corrective Counseling Services (ACCS), alleging that they “engaged in a pattern of behavior in implementing the District Attorney Bad Check Diversion Program” that violated, inter alia, the California Constitution and the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants “operated the Diversion Program unlawfully by using the names of local district attorneys, demanding fees, and using the threat of criminal prosecution to force bad check writers to comply with their payment demands...
Amex Class Action Defense Cases–Hoffman v. American Express Travel: California Trial Court Holds Breach Of Contract Class Action Claims Fail Because American Express Not Required To Automatically Refund Travel Insurance Premiums
Posted on March 25, 2009Class Action Alleging Breach of Contract Against American Express for Failing to Automatically Refund Various Travel Insurance Premiums Lacked Evidentiary Support because Contract Underlying Class Action Dispute Unambiguously Required Enrollees to Contact American Express as a Condition Precedent to Obtaining such Refunds California Trial Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against American Express alleging breach of contract arising from the manner in which American Express billed customers for fee-based per-trip travel insurance; the class action complaint challenged the billing practices associated with four such programs – airflight, baggage, travel delay, and hospital cash...
RESPA Class Action Defense Cases–Hazewood v. Foundation Financial: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of RESPA Class Action Holding Excess Title Premium Charged Not An Unearned Fee Under RESPA
Posted on March 24, 2009District Court Properly Dismissed RESPA Class Action Complaint because Title Insurers Provided Service (Title Insurance) for Fee Alleged Overcharged to Plaintiff, and Plaintiff cannot Manufacture RESPA Claim by Alleging “Portion” of Fee (Excess Premium) was “Unearned” Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against her title insurer, Foundation Financial Group, and other title insurers and title insurance agents alleging inter alia violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA); the class action complaint asserted that defendants overcharged for title insurance in violation of Alabama law, and that they charged borrowers for “other than for services actually performed” in violation of RESPA...
President Obama's Economic Stimulus Package--The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Summary of Selected Tax Provisions
Posted on March 24, 2009Marilyn Barrett, California Tax Attorney at Jeffer Mangels, Discusses Select Tax Provisions of President Obama's Economic Stimulus Package Effective February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (otherwise known as the "Stimulus Bill"), $787 billion economic stimulus legislation which President Obama said marks a "major milestone on our road to recovery...
Class Action Defense Cases–Franco v. Athens Disposal: California State Court Reverses Order In Labor Law Class Action Compelling Plaintiff To Arbitrate Individual Claims Holding Class Action Waiver Unconscionable
Posted on March 23, 2009In Labor Law Class Action, Trial Court Erred in Granting Defense Petition to Compel Plaintiff to Arbitrate his Claims on an Individual Basis because Class Action Waiver in Arbitration Agreement Signed by Employee was Unconscionable California State Court Holds Plaintiff, a trash truck driver, filed a putative class action against his former employer, Athens Disposal, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that Athens denied its employees meal and rest periods...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Hold Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 21, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Lehman Brothers: Judicial Panel For Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of New York
Posted on March 20, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Individual and Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Opposition of Majority of Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Seventeen (17) individual and class actions – nine in New York, five Arkansas, two California and one in Arkansas – were filed against Lehman Brothers and various other defendants alleging that defendants had made materially false and/or misleading statements that negatively impacted the value of Lehman Brothers securities...
Antitrust Class Action Defense Cases–In re Flat Glass: Pennsylvania Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Antitrust Class Action Finding It Adequately Alleged The Existence Of An Agreement Or Conspiracy To Restrain Trade
Posted on March 19, 2009Allegations in Class Action Complaint were Adequate to Defeat Motion to Dismiss Antitrust Class Action Pennsylvania Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed an antitrust class action against various defendants, consisting of “certain United States manufacturers of high quality flat glass used for construction and architectural applications (‘Construction Flat Glass’)”; the class action complaint asserted that the defendants engaged in price fixing in violation of §1 of the Sherman Act...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–Jordan v. Paul Financial: California Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment To TILA Law Class Action Holding Plaintiff Lacks Standing And His Claims Lack Typicality
Posted on March 18, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of Federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) did not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Plaintiff Lacked Standing to Prosecute TILA Claim, Plaintiff was an Inadequate Representative because he could not Establish Traceability, and Plaintiff’s Claims were not Typical of the Putative Class Claims California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Paul Financial concerning option adjustable rate mortgages (Option ARMs); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Option ARMs are “deceptively devised” in that they “promise that the loan [will] have a low, fixed interest rate” when in fact the loan carries a much higher interest rate...
BofA UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Miller v. Bank of America: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding National Bank Act Preempts Application Of State Holiday Statutes To Credit Card Payments
Posted on March 17, 2009State “Holiday Statutes” Preempted by National Bank Act and therefore cannot Support Class Action Claims alleging Unfair Business Practices Against Bank of America for Charging Late Fees or Interest for Credit Card Payments Posted on the First Day Following a State Holiday California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Bank of America, a national bank, now known as FIA Card Services, N...
SLUSA Class Action Defense Cases–Kurz v. Fidelity Management: Seventh Circuit Affirms Removal Of Class Action And Subsequent Defense Judgment In Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Fell Within SLUSA
Posted on March 16, 2009Class Action Premised on Violations of “Best Execution” Duty Fell within Scope of SLUSA (Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998) so Properly Removed and then Properly Dismissed because Time-Barred and no Proof of Injury Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, former investors in portfolio managed by Fidelity Management & Research and FMR Co...
Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Retain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 14, 2009As a resournce for California class action defense attorneys we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Fannie Mae: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District of New York
Posted on March 13, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Largely Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Nineteen (19) class actions – 15 in New York and one each in the District of Columbia, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – were filed against the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and numerous other defendants alleging that “Fannie Mae was undercapitalized during the relevant time period, and that defendants concealed this fact from investors in order to raise capital...
Class Action Defense Cases–Langendorf v. Conseco: Illinois Federal Court Grants Motion To Dismiss Class Action’s Consumer Fraud Claim Because It Was Premised On Breach Of Contract And Illinois Law Requires More
Posted on March 12, 2009Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action’s Claim under Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act (ICFA) Granted because Illinois does not Permit Consumer Fraud/Deception Claim to be Founded on Breach of Contract Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Conseco and Conseco Senior Health Insurance Company (Conseco) alleging inter alia breach of contract and violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act (ICFA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Conseco formulated a scheme “designed to avoid paying...
Class Action Defense Cases–Telco v. Ameritrade: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action And Refuses To Address Appeal From Denial Of Class Action Certification For Lack Of Live Controversy
Posted on March 11, 2009District Court Order Dismissing Class Action Affirmed for Failure to Plaintiff to Address Merits of Dismissal and District Court Order Denying Class Action Treatment Affirmed because Plaintiff no Longer Member of Class it Purported to Represent Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Ameritrade, an Internet-based securities brokerage firm, alleging that defendant caused its customers to suffer damages by delaying trade executions; essentially, the class action complained that defendant’s failure to timely execute trade requests resulted in the failure to obtain the best possible prices...
Class Action Defense Cases–Lu v. Hawaiian Gardens Casino: California State Court Affirms Summary Judgment For Defense In Labor Law Class Action Except For Class Action Claim Under UCL
Posted on March 10, 2009Class Action Challenging Casino-Employer’s Tip-Pooling Policy Properly Thrown Out on Summary Judgment, but Single Claim – alleging Casino Violated Unfair Competition Law (UCL) by Sharing Tips with Employer’s Agents – Reversed because Triable Issue of Fact Existed as to Whether Employer Participated in Tip Pool in Violation of California Law State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his employer, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, alleging violations of California’s Labor Code and of the state’s unfair business practices statute; specifically; the class action complaint asserted defendant’s written tip pool policy governing casino dealers, which “requires dealers to segregate 15 or 20 percent of the tips they receive at the close of each shift” but permits the dealers to keep the remaining portion of the tips they receive, violated California law...
Lead Toys Class Action Defense Cases–In re Mattel: California Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Class Action Complaint Holding Class Action Allegations Were Adequate Save For Federal CPSA Claim
Posted on March 09, 2009Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action Claim under Federal Consumer Protection Safety Act (CPSA) Granted but Remaining Claims in Class Action Adequately Pleaded and Survived Motion to Dismiss California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against numerous defendants, manufacturers and retailers of children's toys, alleging they “sold certain toys that were defective and unsafe, and made actionable representations about the quality of the products...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Again Claim Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 07, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Chrysler: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of New Jersey
Posted on March 06, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by Common Class Action Defendant, and Transfers Class Actions to District of New Jersey Five class actions – one each in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York – were filed against Chrysler arising out of an alleged defect in the 2...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Katz v. Gerardi: Seventh Circuit Reverses Order Remanding Class Action To State Court Holding Class Action Fairness Act May Trump Securities Act Of 1933
Posted on March 05, 2009Pfizer Class Action Defense Cases–Clark v. Pfizer: Pennsylvania State Trial Court Grants Summary Judgment As To Certain Class Action Claims And Decertifies Litigation As Class Action
Posted on March 04, 2009Microsoft/Vista Class Action Defense Cases–Kelley v. Microsoft: Washington Federal Court Grants Microsoft Motion To Decertify Class Action Because Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance Requirement No Longer Met
Posted on March 03, 2009Amex Class Action Defense Cases–Homa v. American Express: Third Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Consumer Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Arbitration Waiver Unenforceable Under New Jersey Law
Posted on March 02, 2009New Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Retain Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on February 28, 2009Class Action Defense Cases—In re Bank of America Auction Rate Securities (ARS): Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfer Class Actions To California
Posted on February 27, 2009CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Dennison v. Carolina Payday Loans: Fourth Circuit Affirms Remand Of Class Action To State Court Holding Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Minimal Diversity Not Established
Posted on February 26, 2009Class Action Properly Remanded to State Court because under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) Defendant is Citizen of Both State of Incorporation and State of Principal Place of Business, and CAFA does not Permit Defendant to Choose State of Citizenship to Satisfy Minimal Diversity for Removal Jurisdiction Fourth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in South Carolina state court against Carolina Payday Loans alleging violations of state law in “payday loans” that were allegedly unconscionable; plaintiff was a South Carolina citizen, and brought the putative class action complaint on behalf of herself and other South Carolina citizens...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–McLoughlin v. People’s United: Connecticut Federal Court Denies Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Holding Removal Jurisdiction Exists Grants Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)
Posted on February 25, 2009Class Action Properly Removed to Federal Court under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act of 2005) because Defendants Established by Preponderance of the Evidence that Class Action Placed more than $5 Million in Controversy Connecticut Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action in Connecticut state court against Bank of New York Mellon (“Mellon”) and People’s United Bank (“Bank”) alleging negligence, invasion of privacy, breach of fiduciary duty, and violations of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA); the class action complaint asserted that Mellon lost electronic data belong to Bank customers...
Class Action Defense Cases–Moore-Thomas v. Alaska Airlines: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action For Failure To Arbitrate Under RLA And Holds Class Action Improperly Removed To Federal Court
Posted on February 24, 2009Defendant Improperly Removed Labor Law Class Action to Federal Court and Therefore District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Alaska Airlines alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that defendant willfully failed to pay its former employees all wages due upon termination as required by Oregon law...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Public Employees’ Retirement Ass’n v. Deloitte & Touche: Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Class Action Without Leave To Amend For Failure To Adequately Plead Scienter
Posted on February 23, 2009Securities Fraud Class Action Claims Against Accountants Properly Dismissed for Failure to Plead Scienter Required by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) because Evidence Showed Company Concealed Information from Accountants Fourth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against various defendants alleging securities fraud violations; the class action complaint alleged that Royal Ahold, N...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Regain Dominance Among Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts In Week Of Heavy Class Action Activity
Posted on February 21, 2009In order to allow class defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases— In re Text Messaging Antitrust: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motions To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Chooses Northern District Of Illinois As Transferee Court
Posted on February 20, 2009Faced with Three Motions for Centralization, Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Responding Class Action Plaintiffs and Defendants, and Transfers Class Actions to Northern District of Illinois Sixteen (16) class actions – filed in federal courts in the District of Columbia, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Texas – were filed against various defendants alleging violations of federal antitrust laws; 15 additional and related class actions also were filed, and were treated as potential tag-along class actions...
Class Action Defense Cases–Solon v. Midwest Medical: Illinois State Appellate Court Holds Statutory Authorization For Reasonable Expenses Up To $20 Did Not Support Charging $20 Flat Fee In Connection With Copy Services
Posted on February 19, 2009As Matter of First Impression, in Class Action Challenging $20 Flat Fee for “Handling” Copy Requests for Medical Requests, Statute Only Authorized Reimbursement of “Reasonable Expenses” which, by Definition, would Vary Among Copy Requests Illinois State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Midwest Medical Records Association (MMRA) alleging deceptive and illegal practices in violation of Illinois law; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that MMRA “overcharge[ed] patients for requested copies of medical records...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Herkert v. MRC Receivables: Illinois Federal Court Amends Class Definitions And Certifies Class Action In FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) Class Action
Posted on February 18, 2009Class Action Challenging Defendants Debt Collection Practices Warranted Class Action Treatment Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against MRC Receivables and others alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Illinois Collection Agency Act (ICAA)...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Gortat v. Capala Brothers: New York Federal Court Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion To Dismiss Crossclaims Against Named Plaintiffs In Labor Law Class Actions
Posted on February 17, 2009In FLSA Class Action, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Dismiss Crossclaims by Defendants Granted because Negligence and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims could not Survive New York Federal Court Holds, but Conversion Claim not Challenged and Defendants Granted Leave to Amend Tortious Interference Claim Six plaintiffs filed a class action against their employer, Capala Brothers, a construction company, alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the New York Minimum Wage Act; in response to the class action complaint, defendants counterclaimed against the plaintiffs for conversion, negligence, tortious interference with contract, and breach of fiduciary duty...
Class Action Defense Cases–Hauk v. JP Morgan Chase: Ninth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment On Class Action’s TILA Claim But Reverses As To Class Action’s UCL And False Advertising Claims
Posted on February 16, 2009District Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment in Favor of Bank as to Claim Alleging Violation of Federal Truth In Lending Act (TILA) because Bank’s Disclosures were Accurate, but Genuine Issue of Material Fact Precluded Summary Judgment as to Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and False Advertising Law (FAL) Claims Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against JP Morgan Chase alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); plaintiff’s amended class action complaint added claims for alleged violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and False Advertising Law (FAL)...
Class Action Defense Cases–Dukes v. Wal-Mart: Ninth Grants Rehearing En Banc Of District Court Order Certifying Nationwide Class Action Against Wal-Mart In Labor Law Class Action Alleging Sex Discrimination Covering 1.5 Million Class Members
Posted on February 15, 2009Wal-Mart’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc of District Court Order Certifying Nationwide Labor Law Class Action Alleging Sex Discrimination Against 1.5 Million Employees Granted by Ninth Circuit We have previously reported on the Ninth Circuit opinion in Dukes v...
Rare Balance Among New Class Action Filings But Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Maintain Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Suits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on February 14, 2009As a resournce for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Processed Eggs: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motions To Centralize Class Action Litigation And Transfers Class Actions To Eastern District Of Pennsylvania
Posted on February 13, 2009Faced with Two Motions to Centralize Class Actions, Judicial Panel Grants Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Agrees with Plaintiffs in Pennsylvania Class Actions that Eastern District of Pennsylvania is the Appropriate Forum for the Class Actions Three class actions –two in Pennsylvania and one in Minnesota – were filed against various defendants alleging federal antitrust violations; 16 related class action lawsuits subsequently were filed (12 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Minnesota and one in New Jersey), which were treated as potential tag-along cases...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases--Ava Acupuncture v. State Farm: New York Federal Court Denies Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Holding "Reasonably Probable" $5,000,000 Was At Stake And Plaintiffs Failed To Establish Local Controversy Exception
Posted on February 12, 2009Class Action Properly Removed to Federal Court under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) because State Farm Declaration Established “Reasonable Probability” that Amount in Controversy Exceeded $5 Million and Plaintiffs Failed to Establish Relief Sought Against “Significant” Local Defendant New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, medical providers who had “been assigned No-Fault medical reimbursement claims by eligible injured persons (‘EIPs’),” filed a class action in New York state court against various defendants, including State Farm, alleging “that defendant insurers have fraudulently failed to pay statutorily mandated medical benefits under New York's No-Fault Insurance Law” and that, together with “their legal counsel and special investigation units (‘SIUs’),” violated various New York state laws...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Johnson v. Advance America: Fourth Circuit Affirms Remand Of Class Action Against Payday Lender To State Court Because Minimal Diversity Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Not Met
Posted on February 11, 2009District Court Properly Remanded Class Action to State Court because under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) a Defendant is Citizen of Both its State of Incorporation and the State where it has its Principal Place of Business Fourth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Advance America in South Carolina state court alleging labor law violations; alleging violations of state law in “payday loans” that were allegedly unconscionable and failed to meet the state law requirement for good faith and fair dealing; plaintiffs were South Carolina citizens, and brought the putative class action complaint on behalf of themselves and other South Carolina citizens...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Crab Addison v. Superior Court: California Appellate Court Denies Writ Relief In Labor Law Class Action Holding Plaintiff Entitled To Contact Information Of Members Of Putative Class Action Despite Release Form
Posted on February 10, 2009Employees’ Execution of Release Forms Requesting Employer not to Disclose their Contact Information in Connection with Litigation did not Prevent Disclosure to Plaintiff in Labor Law Class Action California State Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his employer Crab Addison (erroneously sued as Joe’s Crab Shack) alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that defendant failed to provide meal and rest periods as required by law, and that it misclassified employees as exempt...
GM Class Action Defense Cases–J & R Marketing v. General Motors: Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Class Action Holding Class Action Plaintiff’s Claims Were Meritless
Posted on February 09, 2009Securities Class Action Claims Meritless because GMAC’s Representations Concerning Its Bonds were not False or Misleading and GMAC was not Required to Learn and Disclose Information Concerning the Financials of its Parent Company GM Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, as purchasers of bonds registered by GMAC, filed a class action against GMAC, GM and others alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaint advanced claims under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, and that GMAC failed to disclose required information and made material misstatements in its registration statements and prospectuses for various bond offerings...
No Surprise...Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Hold Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on February 07, 2009In order to allow defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re VistaPrint: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District Of Texas
Posted on February 06, 2009Faced with Two Motions to Centralize Class Actions, Judicial Panel Grants Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Agrees with Defendants that the Southern District of Texas is the Appropriate Forum for the Class Actions Seven class actions –two in Massachusetts; and one each in Alabama, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey and Texas – were filed against various defendants including VistaPrint, Vertrue and Adaptive Marketing, alleging violations of the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act and the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–United Steel Workers v. Shell Oil: Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court Order Remanding Class Action To State Court Holding Timely Removal Of Class Action Under CAFA By One Defendant Is Sufficient
Posted on February 05, 2009District Court Erred in Remanding Labor Law Class Action Complaint to State Court because Defendants Separately Filed Notices of Removal Pursuant to Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), and Timely Removal under CAFA by One Defendant was Sufficient to Remove Class Action to Federal Court for All Defendants Ninth Circuit Holds The United Steel Workers union filed a class action in California state court against Shell Oil, Equilon and Tesoro alleging various labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that defendants failed to provide employees with meal or rest periods, failed to provide proper wage statements, and failed to timely pay wages on termination...
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - CLASS ACTION DEFENSE CONFERENCE COMING TO NEW YORK
Posted on February 05, 2009ACI is sponsoring a conference on Managing Complex Litigation, which will be held at the Helmsley Park Lane in New York on February 25 and 26, 2009. The conference features a faculty of 25 in-house counsel. Details on the conference and its topics may be found at www...
Amex Class Action Defense Cases–In re American Express: Second Circuit Reverses District Court Order Enforcing Class Action Waiver And Compelling Individual Arbitration In Antitrust Class Action
Posted on February 04, 2009As Matter of First Impression, District Court Erred in Antitrust Class Action in Compelling Arbitration Pursuant to Mandatory Arbitration Clause in Commercial Contract and Enforcing Class Action Waiver because Absent Class Action Relief it was Unlikely Merchants would seek Redress for Alleged Wrong Second Circuit Holds Several class action lawsuits were filed by various merchants against American Express alleging violations of federal antitrust laws in the form of a “tying arrangement” between its charge cards and credit cards; the first of these class actions was filed in August 2003 in the Northern District of California, but in December 2004 the district court granted a motion filed by defense attorneys to transfer the class actions, pursuant to 28 U...
Deloitte Class Action Defense Cases– In re Parmalat Securities: New York Federal Court Denies Defense Summary Judgment Motion In Securities Fraud Class Action
Posted on February 03, 2009Summary Judgment as to Securities Fraud Claims against Various Deloitte Entities Denied because Genuine Issues of Fact Existed as to Liability for Claims in Class Action Complaint New York Federal Court Holds Following the collapse of Parmalat Finanziaria, S...
Sprint Class Action Defense Cases–Meyer v. Sprint: California Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal Of UCL Class Action Holding Plaintiffs Had Not Suffered Any Damage As A Result Of The Acts Underlying The Class Action Complaint
Posted on February 02, 2009Class Action Challenging Sprint’s Mandatory Arbitration/Class Action Waiver Clause Properly Dismissed because no Dispute Existed between Plaintiffs and Sprint so no Present Controversy, thus Plaintiffs Lacked Standing to Prosecute Class Action’s Claims, and because Claim for Declaratory Relief Within Trial Court’s Discretion to Dismiss California Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Sprint Spectrum L...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Maintains Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on January 31, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Northstar Education Finance: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of Minnesota
Posted on January 30, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Supported by Other Class Action Plaintiffs and by Common Defendant, and Transfers Class Actions to District of Minnesota Three class actions – one each in California, Michigan and Minnesota – were filed against Northstar Education Finance alleging that “Northstar’s suspension of its bonus program, in which Northstar offered a credit to borrowers who were no more than 59 days late in making loan repayments, was a breach of contract...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Campuzano-Burgos v. Midland Credit: Third Circuit Reverses FDCPA Class Action Ruling In Favor Of Plaintiffs Holding Dunning Letters Underlying Class Action Did Not Violate FDCPA
Posted on January 29, 2009As Matter of First Impression, Dunning Letters/Settlement Offer Letters Sent by Debt Collector over Signatures of Corporate Officers who did not Write, Sign or Personally Authorize Letters did not Violate FDCPA because Letters were Plainly Sent on Behalf of Corporation and not Individuals Third Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against various defendants, including Midland Credit Management, alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); the class action complaint asserted that defendants sent “false, misleading, or deceptive collection notices in contravention of §§ 1692e and 1692e(9) of the Act...
PSLRA JP Morgan Class Action Defense Cases–ECA v. JP Morgan Chase: Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint’s Allegations Failed To Establish Materiality Or Scienter Under PSRLA
Posted on January 28, 2009District Court Properly Dismissed Securities Fraud Class Action Against JP Morgan Chase because Misrepresentations Underlying Class Action were not Material and Class Action Failed to Adequately Allege Scienter under Heightened Pleading Requirements Established by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Second Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) and two of its officers alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint asserted that defendants “defrauded JPMC shareholders by making deliberate misrepresentations that artificially inflated the price of JPMC stock and ultimately led to a collapse of JPMC’s share price...
State Farm Class Action Defense Cases–Moore v. State Farm: Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of State Farm In Class Action Challenging Conversion Of Homeowners Insurance Policies
Posted on January 27, 2009District Court Properly Granted State Farm’s Summary Judgment Motion in Class Action Challenging Conversion Of Homeowners Insurance Policies because Conversion did not Constitute Cancelation or Nonrenewal of Policies in Violation of Louisiana Law Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in Louisiana state court against State Farm alleging that its conversion of homeowner insurance policies to new policy forms violated Louisiana law...
AOL Class Action Defense Cases–Doe 1 v. AOL: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Forum Selection Clause Unenforceable In CLRA/UCL Class Action Because Virginia State Courts Would Not Provide Class Action Relief
Posted on January 26, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action under Rule 23(b)(3) for Improper Venue because Forum Selection Clause in Internet Member Agreement Effectively Precluded Class Action Relief Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a nationwide class action against AOL alleging violations of the federal electronic privacy law; the class action complaint asserted that AOL “made publicly available the internet search records of more than 650,000 of its members” that “contained personal and sometimes embarrassing information about the members...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Regain Sole Control Of Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on January 24, 2009In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class action lawsuits against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Anchondo v. Anderson: New Mexico Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss FDCPA Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged Debt Collector Violated State And Federal Laws
Posted on January 23, 2009Class Action Alleging Violation of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Survives Defense Motion to Dismiss because Class Action Complaint Alleged Debt Collector Failed to Identify Itself or that it was Attempting to Collect a Debt in its Initial Communication with Plaintiff New Mexico Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against a debt collector alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act; the class action complaint asserted that...
Class Action Defense Cases–Woods v. QC Financial: Missouri State Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court Order Striking Class Action Waiver From Arbitration Clause And Then Compelling Arbitration Of Dispute
Posted on January 22, 2009Class Action Waiver in Payday Loan Agreement Containing Mandatory Arbitration Clause was Unconscionable and Trial Court did not Err in Severing Class Action Waiver, Compelling Arbitration, and Allowing Arbitrator to Determine Whether Matter should Proceed as Class Action Missouri State Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against QC Financial, a payday lender, from whom plaintiff had borrowed money several times; the class action complaint alleged that defendant violated various Missouri state laws governing payday lenders...
UPS Class Action Defense Cases–Taylor v. UPS: Fifth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Labor Law Class Action Holding Statutes Of Limitation Governing Class Action Claims Were Tolled During Appeal Of Related Class Action
Posted on January 21, 2009Statutes of Limitation for Class Action Claims Against UPS were Tolled in Labor Law Class Action during Appeal from Summary Judgment in Favor of UPS in Certified Class Action Alleging Related Claims Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his former employer, United Parcel Service, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that UPS discriminated against its employees on the basis of race...
Class Action Defense Cases–Williams v. Gerber Products: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action Challenging Gerber “Fruit Juice Snacks” Packaging
Posted on January 20, 2009District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action Complaint Alleging that Packaging of Toddler “Fruit Juice Snacks” was Deceptive and Misleading because Reasonable Consumer is not Required to Read Ingredient List to Correct Misimpressions given by Balance of Packaging Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Gerber Products alleging that it deceptively marketed its toddler “Fruit Juice Snacks”; the 8-count class action complaint “challenged five features of the packaging used by Gerber to sell its Fruit Juice Snacks” (summarized in the Note, below)...
FEMA Class Action Defense Cases–In re FEMA Trailer Formaldehyde: Louisiana Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment To Products Liability Class Action Arising From Trailers FEMA Provided Hurricane Victims
Posted on January 19, 2009Class Action by Victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and FEMA and Others Alleging High Levels of Formaldehyde in Trailers Supplied to Displaced Citizens Failed to Satisfy Class Action Requirements of Rule 23 and therefore Class Action Treatment was not Warranted Louisiana Federal Court Holds Numerous class action lawsuits were filed against the federal government and several others arising out of the trailers provided to evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; the class actions were filed by individuals “claiming that they either lived or resided along the Gulf Coast of the United States in travel trailers, park models, and manufactured homes provided to them by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (‘FEMA’)” and that they “have been exposed to purportedly high levels of formaldehyde contained in these [emergency housing units] EHUs, and…have suffered damages as a result...
UCL and Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Share Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on January 17, 2009As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases—In re National City: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District of Ohio
Posted on January 16, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Ohio Thirteen (13) class actions lawsuits – 12 in the Northern District of Ohio and 1 in the Southern District of Florida – were filed against National City and certain affiliates alleging violations of federal securities laws by issuing “materially false and misleading statements which had a negative impact in 2008 on National City’s stock”; the putative class actions were filed on behalf of three separate groups – “securities holders seeking relief under the federal securities laws, shareholders suing derivatively on behalf of National City [and] participants in National City’s retirement savings plans suing for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [(ERISA)]...
Class Action Defense Cases– Ghazaryan v. Diva Limousine: California State Court Reverses Denial Of Class Action Treatment In Labor Law Class Action Holding Trial Court Erred In Believing It Had To Reach Merits To Certify Class Action
Posted on January 15, 2009In Denying Motion for Class Action Certification, Trial Court Erroneously Concluded that it would be Required to Reach Merits of Class Action Allegations in order to Determine Ascertainability and Numerosity, Thus Necessitating Reversal and Remand with Instructions to Certify Labor Law Class Action California State Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against his employer, Diva Limousine, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted, in part, that Diva failed to pay overtime and failed to provide its employees with meal and rest breaks...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Seeger v. AFNI: Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Debt Collector In FDCPA Class Action Holding Fee Sought To Be Recovered By Debt Collector Were Not Authorized
Posted on January 14, 2009District Court Properly Granted Plaintiffs’ Summary Judgment Motion in Class Action Under Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because Fees Debt Collector Sought to Recover and Underlying Class Action Claims were not Proper Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against AFNI, a debt collection company, alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Wisconsin Consumer Act; the class action complaint asserted that AFNI’s collection practices violated state and federal law because ANFI sought to collect a 15% that was not authorized by either statute or contract...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Cozzarelli v. Inspire Pharmaceuticals: Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Allegations In Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on January 13, 2009Securities Fraud Class Action Complaint Failed to Adequately Plead Strong Inference of Scienter Required by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSRLA) because Defense Presented Compelling Inference that Company Refused to Disclose Details of Phase III Drug Trials for “Competitive Reasons,” thereby Supporting District Court Order Dismissing Class Action Complaint Without Leave to Amend Fourth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Inspire Pharmaceutical and three of its directors (collectively “Inspire”), as well as other defendants, alleging violations of federal securities laws; the class action complaint asserted that Inspire “overstat[ed] the prospects for an experimental drug that the company was developing to treat dry eye disease...
Song-Beverly Class Action Defense Cases–Party City v. Superior Court: California State Appellate Court Orders Summary Judgment In Favor Of Retailer In Song-Beverly Class Action Holding Zip Codes Not “Personal Information” Under Statute
Posted on January 12, 2009Defense Motion for Summary Judgment in Song-Beverly Class Action should have been Granted because Zip Codes do not Constitute “Personal Identification Information” within the Meaning of Song-Beverly Act California State Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Party City alleging violations of California’s Song-Beverly Act, Cal...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue Hold On Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on January 10, 2009To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Whirlpool: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Only For Certain Class Actions And Selects Northern District Of Ohio As Transferee Court
Posted on January 09, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by All Class Action Plaintiffs, but Limits Scope of Centralization Order to Only Five (5) of the Eight (8) Class Actions at Issue, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Ohio rather than Illinois as Requested by Defense Attorneys Eight class actions – four in Illinois, two in New Jersey, and one in Ohio and New York – were filed against various defendants, including Whirlpool and Sear, Roebuck, alleging products liability claims; specifically, the class action complaints alleged that “certain front-loading washing machines manufactured by Whirlpool and sold under the Whirlpool brand name contain design defects that cause the machines to fail to drain properly, thereby resulting in the creation of mold, mildew, and associated unpleasant odors...
Anti-Spam Class Action Defense Cases–Kleffman v. Vonage: Following Dismissal Of Class Action Ninth Circuit Certifies Question Concerning California’s Anti-Spam Law To California Supreme Court
Posted on January 08, 2009Propriety of District Court Dismissal of Anti-Spam Class Action Complaint would Benefit from California Supreme Court Interpretation of Statute Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Vonage Holdings, Vonage America and Vonage Marketing (collectively “Vonage”) alleging violations of California’s anti-spam law...
Class Action Defense Cases--In re Mattel: California Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Claims Under Consumer Protection Safety Act But Refuses To Dismiss Remaining Class Action Claims Arising From Sale Of Lead Tainted Toys
Posted on January 07, 2009Class Action Complaint Alleging Various Claims Arising from Manufacture and Sale of Toys Tainted with Lead Paint Survives Defense Motion to Dismiss, Save for Class Action Claims under Consumer Protection Safety Act (CPSA) California Federal Court Holds Numerous class action complaints were filed against various defendants, including are Mattel and Fisher-Price (“Manufacturer Defendants”) and Target, Toys “R” Us, Wal-Mart Stores, KB Toys and Kmart (“Retailer Defendants”), alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that a computer error caused Sprint to systematically fail to properly calculate commissions due employees of Sprint’s Business Direct Channel...
H&R Block CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Marshall v. H&R Block: Illinois Federal Court Remands Class Action To State Court Holding Modifications To Class Definition Did Not Support Removal Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)
Posted on January 06, 2009Trial Court Amendments to Class Definitions in Response to Defense Motion to Decertify Class Action did not Create a “New Action” Sufficient to Justify Removal under Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA) Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a state court class action complaint against H&R Block Tax Services in January 2002 alleging “statutory fraud by omission in violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (‘ICFA’) and ‘the substantially similar statutes of specific sister states’ and breach of fiduciary duty...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Davis v. Pacific Capital: Ninth Circuit Holds Bank Not Required To Refund Any Portion Of Finance Charge Assessed For IRS Refund Anticipation Loan Following Early Payoff By Borrower
Posted on January 05, 2009As Matter of First Impression, Finance Charge by Bank for IRS Refund Anticipation Loan was not “Interest” within the Meaning of 15 U.S.C. § 1615 so District Court Properly Dismissed Class Action Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Pacific Capital Bank alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL); the class action complaint alleged that plaintiff obtained a “Refund Anticipation Loan” (RAL) from the Bank secured by her “anticipated federal income tax refund” and authorized the IRS to deposit her refund into an account established by the Bank...
2008 Class Action Lawsuits End Year With Substantial Increase In Labor Law Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on January 03, 2009As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in the California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Countrywide: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Western District of Kentucky As Transferee Court
Posted on January 02, 2009Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Supported by All Responding Parties including Other Class Action Plaintiffs and Countrywide Defendants, but Transfers Class Actions to Western District of Kentucky Six class actions –three in California, two in Florida, and one in Missouri – were filed against Bank of America and various Countrywide entities, together with other defendants, alleging violations of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)...
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on January 01, 2009The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy New Year. A new class action article will be published tomorrow.
CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG OFF FOR NEW YEARS
Posted on December 31, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog is taking the day off for the New Year holiday. A new class action article will be published on Friday, January 2.
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Bernal v. Vankar: Texas Federal Court Grants Class Action Plaintiffs Summary Judgment In Labor Law Class Action Concluding Employers Failed To Pay Minimum Wages And Overtime Required By FLSA
Posted on December 30, 2008Class Action Plaintiff Alleging Violations of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Entitled to Summary Judgment because Employers Improperly took “Tip Credits” Against Employee Wages and Failed to Pay Overtime Required by FLSA Texas Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his former employers – TDS Entertainment (which owns Dixie's Country Bar), Chicago Bar and Vankar Enterprises (which owns Babcock Bar) – alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); the class action complaint asserted that defendants failed to pay employees minimum wage because they unlawfully credited tips against their employees’ salaries...
Google Class Action Defense Cases–Vulcan Golf v. Google: Illinois Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment For Class Action Complaint Against Google Alleging Violations Of Anti-Cybersquatting Protection Act
Posted on December 29, 2008Class Action Complaint’s Anti-Cybersquatting Protection Act Claims do not Warrant Class Action Treatment because Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance Requirement for Class Action Certification not Met due to Individualized Issues Surrounding Trademarks or Personal Names Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Google and others alleging “a wide-ranging scheme whereby they receive ‘billions of dollars in ill-gotten advertising and marketing revenue’ by knowingly and intentionally registering, licensing and monetizing purportedly deceptive domain names at the expense of the plaintiff-mark owners...
Time Class Action Defense Cases—In re Set-Top Cable Television: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District of New York
Posted on December 26, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Southern District of New York Six class actions – three in California, and one each in Kansas, Missouri and New York – were filed against Time Warner and Time Warner Cable, and others, alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act...
MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on December 25, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy holiday season. A new class action article will be published tomorrow.
CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Posted on December 24, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog is taking the day off for the Christmas holiday. A new class action article will be published on Friday, December 26.
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–Boos v. AT&T: Texas Federal Court Certifies Class Action After Independently Analyzing Requirements For Class Action Certification Of Rule 23 Despite Lack Of Defense Objection To Class Action Treatment
Posted on December 23, 2008District Court Independently Analyzes Class Action Certification Requirements of ERISA Class Action Complaint, despite Lack of Defense Objection to Class Action Treatment, and Concludes Class Action Certification Warranted Texas Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, retirees of BellSouth Corporation, a subsidiary of AT & T, filed a class action against AT&T and BellSouth alleging violations of the he Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged “that (1) a benefit known as telephone concession, which was provided to certain employees of BellSouth after retirement, constitutes a defined benefit pension plan under ERISA (hereinafter, ‘plan claims’); and (2) that Defendants violated ERISA in administering and maintaining the telephone concession plan (hereinafter, ‘benefit claims’)...
DuPont Class Action Defense Cases#8211;In re Teflon: Iowa Federal Court Denies Class Action Treatment To False Advertising Class Action Against DuPont Alleging Failure To Disclose Health Risks Associated With Non-Stick Cookware Coatings
Posted on December 22, 2008Class Action Claims Alleging DuPont knew but Failed to Disclose Health Risks Associated with use of Non-Stick Cookware Coatings (including Teflon) not Entitled to Class Action Treatment because Class Definition Failed and Membership in Proposed Class could not be Objectively Established Iowa Federal Court Holds Thirteen class action lawsuits were filed against E...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Again Lead Categories Of New Class Actions Filed In California State And Federal Courts During Past Week
Posted on December 20, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California state and federal courts, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in thestate and federal courts located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases#8211;Turner v. AAMC: California State Court Reverses Class Action Judgment In Favor Of Plaintiffs Holding California#8217;s Civil Rights And Disabled Persons Act Did Not Apply To MCAT Standardized Tests
Posted on December 19, 2008California State Law does not Require Testing Accommodations for Reading-Related Learning Disabilities so Class Action Against Association of American Medical Colleges for Failing to Afford Accommodations, other than those Required by Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fails California State Court Holds Plaintiffs, individuals with reading-related learning disabilities who applied to take the MCAT in California, filed a putative class action against the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and Disabled Persons Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that plaintiffs “requested more time and/or a private room in which to take the test,” but that the AAMC denied the requests, thus failing to afford them accommodations for reading-related disabilities...
Tobacco Class Action Defense Cases-Altria Group v. Good: Supreme Court Holds Class Action Claims Challenging "Light" And "Low Tar" Labels Not Preempted By Federal Law And Affirms Reinstatement Of Class Action
Posted on December 18, 2008U.S. Supreme Court Affirms First Circuit Decision Reinstating Class Action Against Tobacco Companies Holding District Court Erred in Dismissing Class Action Challenging Advertising of “Light” and “Low Tar” Cigarettes as Expressly Preempted by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA) Plaintiffs filed a class action against Philip Morris and its parent, Altria, for violations of Maine’s Unfair Trade Practices Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants’ design, marketing and sale of “light” and “low tar” cigarettes “fraudulently conveyed the message that their ‘light’ cigarettes deliver less tar and nicotine to consumers than regular brands despite [defendants’] knowledge that the message was untrue...
Sprint Class Action Defense Cases#8211;Harlow v. Sprint: Kansas Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment To Labor Law Class Action Against Sprint Alleging Systematic Failure To Properly Calculate Commissions Due Employees
Posted on December 17, 2008Class Action Complaint Alleging Computer Problems Systematically Caused Sprint to Pay Employees Less than they were Due Warranted Class Action Treatment as Common Issues – Centered on Sprint’s Computer System – Predominated Class Action Claims Kansas Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Sprint Nextel Corporation and Sprint/United Management (collectively “Sprint”) alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint asserted that a computer error caused Sprint to systematically fail to properly calculate commissions due employees of Sprint’s Business Direct Channel...
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - CLASS ACTION DEFENSE CONFERENCES COMING TO NEW YORK
Posted on December 17, 2008The American Conference Institute is sponsoring its 8th Annual Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions & Litigation. The conference will be held at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel in New York on January 27 and 28, 2009, and will feature an impressive panel of speakers...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Quiroz v. Revenue Production Management: Illinois Federal Court Certifies Class Action Holding Requirements For Certification Of Rule 23(b)(3) Class Action Had Been Met
Posted on December 16, 2008FDCPA Class Action Complaint Warranted Class Action Treatment because Plaintiff Satisfied Requirements for Rule 23(b)(3) Class Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Revenue Production Management, Inc., a debt collection agency, alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); the class action complaint asserted “that Defendant had a policy and practice of violating Section 1692e of the FDCPA by: (1) sending [debt collection letters] after the expiration of the 30-day validation period outlined in the initial communication; (2) informing the consumer that the debt must be disputed in writing after expiration of the 30-day validation period outlined in the initial communication; and (3) informing the consumer that a dispute must be made within 30 days of the initial communication, after the expiration of the 30-day validation period outlined in the initial communication...
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - CLASS ACTION DEFENSE CONFERENCE COMING TO NEW YORK
Posted on December 16, 2008The American Conference Institute is sponsoring its 8th Annual Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions & Litigation. The conference will be held at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel in New York on January 27 and 28, 2009, and will feature an impressive panel of speakers...
Class Action Defense Cases–Starbucks v. Superior Court: California State Appellate Court Orders Judgment In Favor Of Starbucks In Labor Law Class Action Holding Named Plaintiffs In Class Action Suffered No Injury
Posted on December 15, 2008Class Action Seeking Statutory Damages on behalf of all Applicants could not Survive Defense Motion for Summary Judgment because Class Action Representatives Suffered no Injury and Legislature did not Intend to Permit Unaffected Individuals to Recover Statutory Damages California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Starbucks alleging violations of California labor law provisions concerning information collected from prospective employees during the application process; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that Starbucks improperly asked applicants “about prior marijuana convictions that are more than two years old...
New Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Hold Top Spot Among Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on December 13, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Velocity Express: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Eastern District of Wisconsin
Posted on December 12, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, but Transfers Class Actions to Eastern District of Wisconsin Eight class actions – one in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania – were filed against common defendants Velocity Express Corp...
Class Action Defense Cases-Kullar v. Foot Locker: California Court Reverses Approval Of Class Action Settlement Holding Insufficient Evidence Provided To Support Reasonableness Of Class Action Settlement Particularly As To Class Action's Meal Period Claim
Posted on December 11, 2008Approval of Class Action Settlement of Labor Law Class Action must be Vacated and Remanded because Trial Court Lacked Sufficient Evidence to Determine Reasonableness of Proposed Class Action Settlement and because Objector (Plaintiff in a Separate Class Action) Wrongfully Denied Discovery Regarding Class Action Settlement California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Foot Locker alleging violations of California’s Labor Code; the class action complaint asserted that defendant failed to reimburse employees for expenses related to mandatory uniforms as required by California law...
Class Action Defense Cases– Stewart v. Cheek & Zeehandelar: Ohio Federal Court Certifies (b)(2) Class Action But Refuses To Certify (b)(3) Class Action Of FDCPA Class Action Claims Against Law Firm Debt Collector
Posted on December 10, 2008FDCPA Class Action Claims Certified as a (b)(2) Class after Modification of Class Definition but (b)(3) Class Lacked Predominance as Mini-Hearings would be Required to Establish Damages for each Class Member Ohio Federal Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Cheek & Zeehandelar (an Ohio-based law firm that litigates debt collection actions) and two of its attorneys alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant “seeks to garnish or attach the property of Ohio consumers who have defaulted on credit and loan agreements, without having first investigated the nature of the debtors' property to determine if it is legally exempt from garnishment or attachment...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Gaisser v. Portfolio Recovery Associates: Florida Federal Court Grants Motion To Dismiss Certain Class Action Claims But Denies Motion To Dismiss FDCPA Class Action
Posted on December 09, 2008Motion to Dismiss FDCPA Class Action Claim Premised on Filing Untimely Debt Collection Lawsuits Fails but Motion to Dismiss State Law Class Action Claims and to Dismiss FDCPA Class Action Claim based on Attorney Fees Sought in Debt Collection Lawsuits were Meritorious Florida Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA) and certain individuals (PRA’s lawyers) alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida’s Consumer Collections Practices Act (FCCPA); the class action complaint asserted that in violation of state and federal law, defendants engaged in a pattern and practice of filing lawsuits to collect debts after the statute of limitations had expired for doing so, and that defendants sought a standard amount of attorney fees without supporting documentation and without actually having incurred the stated amount in attorney fees...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Again Hold Top Spont Among Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts But Securities Class Action Lawsuits Surge Into Second
Posted on December 06, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Indianapolis Life: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District of Texas
Posted on December 05, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 in the Northern District of Texas but Excludes two Class Actions from the Scope of its Transfer Order Four class actions – in the District of Arizona, the Southern District of Indiana, the Northern District of Mississippi and the Northern District of Texas – were filed against Indianapolis Life and others alleging In re Indianapolis Life Ins...
Class Action Defense Cases–Carlson v. eHarmony.com: California State Trial Court Certifies Class Action Against eHarmony Granting Class Action Treatment To Claims Of Homosexual And Bisexual People Denied Services Based On Sexual Orientation
Posted on December 04, 2008Discrimination Class Action Against eHarmony.com Granted Class Action Status as to Claims by Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People Denied Services on Basis of Sexual Orientation, but Class Action Treatment Denied as to Claims by Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People who were “Deterred” from using eHarmony because of its Refusal to Serve Homosexual and Bisexual Individuals California State Trial Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against matchmaking website eHarmony...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Glazer Capital v. Magistri: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Securities Class Action Complaint Failed To Plead Scienter Under PSLRA
Posted on December 03, 2008Securities Class Action Complaint Properly Dismissed because Class Action Failed to Satisfy Heightened Pleading Requirements under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against InVision Technologies and two of its officers alleging violations of federal securities law; the class action complaint arose because after InVision announced that it had entered into a merger agreement with General Electric, the company disclosed that the merger may not occur because of the discovery of potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act causing an immediate drop in InVision’s stock price, even though the merger eventually went through...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases–Bateman v. American Multi-Cinema: California Federal Court Denies Class Action Certification Motion Holding Putative FACTA Class Action Failed Superiority Test Because Of Risk Of Excessive Damage Award
Posted on December 02, 2008Putative Class Action Alleging Violations of FACTA not Entitled to Class Action Treatment because Rule 23(b)(3)’s Superiority Requirement for Class Action Certification not Met California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against American Multi-Cinema for violating the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant printed not only the last four digits of a consumer’s credit or debit card on the customer’s receipt, but the first four digits as well...
Wal-Mart Class Action Defense Cases–Robinson v. Wal-Mart: Mississippi Federal Court Grants Wal-Mart Motion To Dismiss Labor Law Class Action Holding Rule 23(b) Requirements For Class Action Treatment Could Not Be Met
Posted on December 01, 2008Labor Law Class Action Dismissed because Class Action Predominance Test of Rule 23(b) could not be Satisfied and, Absent Potential for Class Action Certification, Federal Court Lacked Subject Matter Jurisdiction because Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) was Inapplicable Mississippi Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores alleging violations of Mississippi’s labor laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Wal-Mart required plaintiffs to work hours “off the clock,” and to work through meal and rest periods for which they were not paid in violation of state law...
CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG OFF FOR THANKSGIVING
Posted on November 28, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog is taking the day off for the Thanksgiving holiday. A new class action article will be published on Monday, December 1
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on November 27, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and urges class action defense counsel to take the day off! A new class action article will be published on Monday, December 1.
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Ley v. Visteon: Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Against Company, Individuals And Outside Auditor Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on November 26, 2008Securities Fraud Class Action Properly Dismissed by District Court because Class Action Complaint Failed to Adequately Allege Failure to Disclose and because Class Action Complaint Failed to Create Strong Inference of Scienter Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Visteon Corporation and certain officers and directors of Visteon, and against its outside auditor, Pricewaterhousecooper, alleging violations of federal securities law; specifically, the class action complaint asserted claims for violations of § 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, and § 20(a) of the Exchange Act...
Class Action Defense Cases–Danvers v. Ford Motor: Third Circuit Reverses Certification Of Class Action Holding Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance And Superiority Tests For Class Action Treatment Had Not Been Met
Posted on November 25, 2008Class Action Complaint by Car Dealers Against Ford Arising out of Blue Oval Program Erroneously Certified as Class Action because Rule 23(b)(3)’s Predominance and Superiority Requirements not met Third Circuit Holds Nine plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Ford on behalf of themselves and other Ford dealers; the class action complaint alleged that Ford’s Blue Oval Program violated state and federal law...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases– Elam v. Neidorff: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Satisfy PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on November 24, 2008Securities Fraud Class Action Properly Dismissed for Failure to Adequately Plead Falsity and Scienter because Allegations in Class Action Complaint did not Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements Under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Centene Corporation and three of its officers alleging violations of federal securities law; the class action complaint alleged violations of sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and of Rule 10b-5...
Back To Normal--Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Dominate Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts As UCL Class Actions Drop To Distant Second
Posted on November 22, 2008As a resournce for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re SemGroup Energy: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District of Oklahoma
Posted on November 21, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Common Class Action Defendants or by Plaintiffs in New York Class Action, and Transfers Class Actions to Northern District of Oklahoma Two class actions – one in Oklahoma and one in New York – were filed against SemGroup Energy Partners alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaints alleged that defendants “made materially false and misleading statements which artificially inflated the price of SGLP common stock in violation of the federal securities laws” In re SemGroup Energy Partners, L...
Sprint Class Action Defense Cases–Harlow v. Sprint: Kansas Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Class Action Holding Kansas Wage Payment Act Class Action Claim May Be Brought By Employees Who Neither Live Nor Work In Kansas
Posted on November 20, 2008Class Action Alleging Violations of Kansas Wage Payment Act may be Brought by Plaintiffs who do not Live or Work in Kansas because State Law Contains no Express Geographical Limitation and Employment Agreement Expressly Contained Kansas Choice of Law Provision Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their employer, Sprint Nextel and Sprint/United Management (collectively “Sprint”) alleging violations of federal securities law; specifically, the class action claimed that “Sprint failed to pay [plaintiffs] proper commissions...
Oracle Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Sullivan v. Oracle: Ninth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In Labor Law Class Action Holding California Labor Code Applies To Work Performed In The State By Nonresidents
Posted on November 19, 2008Class Action Against Oracle Alleging Failure to Pay Overtime Pursuant to State and Federal Laws Survives Summary Judgment as to California Law Claims because Nonresidents are Protected by California Labor Code for Work Performed within California, but District Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment as to Class Action Claim Alleging Violation of California’s Unfair Business Practices Act (UCL) for Failure to Pay Overtime under Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because California’s UCL “does not have Extraterritorial Application” Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their employer, Oracle, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that Oracle failed to pay employees overtime under either the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or California state law...
Class Action Defense Cases--Stewart v. Cheek & Zeehandelar: Ohio Federal Court Strikes Rule 68 Offer Of Judgment In FDCPA Class Action Holding Rule 68 Offer To Settle Individual Claims After Class Action Certification Motion Filed Cannot Moot Class Claims
Posted on November 18, 2008Class Action Claims not Rendered Moot by Rule 68 Offer of Judgment to Settle Individual Claims of Named Plaintiffs so long as Plaintiffs have not Delayed in Seeking Class Action Treatment of Litigation Ohio Federal Holds Two class action lawsuits were filed against the law firm of Cheek & Zeehandelar, a consumer debt collection firm, alleging violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA); the class action complaints alleged that defendant “engages in misleading and deceptive debt-collection practices” and that it “uniformly fails to properly investigate whether debtor funds are lawfully subject to attachment, prior to seeking and obtaining orders of attachment...
Class Action Defense Cases–Harper v. 24 Hour Fitness: California State Court Reverses Decertification Of Class Action Holding Trial Court’s Analysis Of UCL Class Action Claims Was "Legally Incorrect"
Posted on November 17, 2008Trial Court Erred in Decertifying UCL Class Action because Post-Proposition 64 UCL Relief does not Extend Beyond Named Plaintiffs Absent Class Action Treatment and because Attorney Fees Generally not Recoverable Absent Class-Wide Relief California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against 24 Hour Fitness alleging violations of California’s unfair competition law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and false advertising; the class action complaint asserted that their health club memberships allowed them to renew for an additional three years – the same period as their original membership contract – “at the same rate if they renewed their membership when the initial term expired,” but defendant asserted that the membership contracts permitted “renewals at the specified rate for an annual term only...
Labor Law And UCL Class Action Lawsuits Swap Spots In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts As Employment-Related Class Actions Regain Top Spot
Posted on November 15, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class action lawsuits against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases—In re DirecTech: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District of Louisiana
Posted on November 14, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Eastern District of Louisiana Three class actions –in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Western District of Tennessee and the Eastern District of Texas – were filed against DirecTech Southwest alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act; specifically, the class action complaints allege defendant failed to pay its technicians overtime as required by the FLSA...
Class Action Defense Cases–Munoz v. Financial Freedom: California Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Claims As Preempted By HOLA But Grants Leave To File Amended Class Action Complaint
Posted on November 13, 2008Home Owners’ Loan Act (HOLA) Preempted Class Action Claims Premised on Scheme to Defraud Senior Citizens into Entering into Reverse Mortgages but Plaintiff given Leave to File Amended Class Action Complaint California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corporation alleging that “Financial Freedom instituted a complex scheme to defraud senior citizens in the structuring, origination, underwriting, marketing and sale of reverse mortgages...
Class Action Defense Cases–Caudle v. Towers, Perrin: New York Federal Court Grants Defense Motion For Judgment On Negligence And Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Class Action Claims Premised On Theft Of Individuals’ Personal Information
Posted on November 12, 2008Class Action Seeking Credit Monitoring Costs and Identify Theft Insurance Following Theft of Laptops Containing Employees’ Personal Information, including Social Security Numbers, Failed to Establish Negligence or Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby, Inc...
Class Action Defense Cases–Brinkley v. Public Storage: In Labor Law Class Action, California State Court Affirms Defense Summary Judgment On Class Action’s Meal And Rest Period Claims Holding Breaks Need Only Be Available
Posted on November 11, 2008Class Action Claims Alleging Employer Violated State Law because it did not Ensure Employees took Meal and Rest Breaks Failed because Employer need only make Meal and Rest Breaks “Available” but need not “Ensure” they are taken California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his former employer, Public Storage, alleging state labor law violations; in pertinent part, the class action complaint alleged that the paystubs defendant provided to employees failed to comply with state law, and that defendant failed to ensure that employees took all meal and rest breaks permitted by state law...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Metzler v. Corinthian Colleges: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet PSRLA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on November 10, 2008Securities Fraud Class Action Properly Dismissed without Leave to Amend because Class Action Failed to Plead Loss Causation, Scienter or Falsity with Specificity Required by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Corinthian Colleges (one of the nation's largest operators of private for-profit vocational colleges) and three of its officers, alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the securities fraud class action alleged violations of §§ 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5...
UCL Class Action Lawsuits Seize Top Spot from Labor Law Class Actions In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on November 08, 2008As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Toys “R” Us: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Central District of California
Posted on November 07, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Two Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by Illinois Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Central District of California Two putative nationwide class actions were filed in the Central District of California and the Northern District of Illinois against Toys “R” Us alleging violations of the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA); specifically, the class action complaints allege that defendant printed “certain credit and debit card information on customer receipts” in violation of FACTA...
Class Action Defense Cases–Cundiff v. Verizon: California State Court Reverses Order Returning Unclaimed Class Action Settlement Funds To Defendant
Posted on November 06, 2008California Legislature Intended Unclaimed Class Action Settlement Funds to be Used Charitably rather than Returned to Defendant California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against GTE California (now Verizon) alleging that it “engaged in unfair business practices by improperly billing residential customers for rented telephone equipment...
Sears UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Thorogood v. Sears: Seventh Circuit Decertifies Class Action Holding Reliance Cannot Be Presumed And Trial On Consumer Protection Class Action Claims Would Require Individual Hearings And Proof
Posted on November 05, 2008Class Action Certification of Multi-State Class Action Alleging Consumer Protection Act Violations Improper because Reliance on Allegedly False/Deceptive Advertisements cannot be Presumed and Commonality not Present Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative multi-state class action against Sears, Roebuck alleging false advertising under various state consumer protection statutes and individual claims for violations of Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that Sears engaged in deceptive advertising practices in connection with the sale of its Kenmore clothes dryers...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–Christ v. Beneficial: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification And Damage Award In Truth-In-Lending-Act Class Action Holding TILA Does Not Authorize Actions Seeking Private Injunctive Relief
Posted on November 04, 2008Private Injunctive Relief Unavailable Under Truth in Lending Act, so District Court in TILA Class Action Seeking such Relief Improperly Granted Class Action Treatment under Rule 23(b)(2) and Erred Further in Awarding $22 Million in Damages as “Restitution or Disgorgement” under Declaratory Judgment Act Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Beneficial Florida, Inc...
SLUSA Class Action Defense Cases–Instituto de Prevision Militar v. Merrill Lynch: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action By Pension Manager Holding SLUSA Preempts Class Action Securities Fraud Claims Against Merrill Lynch
Posted on November 03, 2008Class Action Claims Against Merrill Lynch Preempted by SLUSA (Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998) because Pension Manager Lawsuit Constituted “Covered Class Action” under SLUSA Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiff, a quasi-governmental agency that manages pension funds for armed forces personnel, filed a putative class action in Florida state court against Merrill Lynch alleging violations of various Florida state laws; it filed separate class action lawsuits against Lehman Brothers and against Pension Fund of America (PFA)...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Hold Top Spot In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on November 01, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Lending Tree: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Western District of North Carolina
Posted on October 31, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by any Responding Parties, and Transfers Actions to Western District of North Carolina Three class actions – one in California, Illinois and North Carolina – were filed against LendingTree and other defendants alleging that LendingTree failed to “limit access to and/or adequately safeguard private customer information in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act...
Class Action Defense Cases–Fernandez v. Victoria Secrets: California Federal Court Grants Final Approval To Settlement Of Labor Law Class Action And Awards Class Action Plaintiffs’ Counsel 34% Of Total Value Of Class Action Settlement
Posted on October 30, 2008Labor Law Class Action Settlement Providing Class Members with Gift Cards Worth $67.50 found Fair and Reasonable but California Federal Court Reduces Attorney Fee Award from 39.4% to 34% of Class Action Settlement Value Plaintiffs filed a class action against Victoria’s Secret alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint “alleg[ed] that Victoria’s Secret requires job applicants to participate in a ‘sales tryout’ during which they are trained and directed to work in Victoria’s Secret stores without pay...
WAMU PSRLA Class Action Defense Cases–South Ferry v. Killinger: Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court Order Denying Motion To Dismiss Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Core-Operations Inference Alone Does Not Satisfy PSLRA
Posted on October 29, 2008“Core-Operations Inference” Insufficient Alone to Support PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements for Scienter in Securities Fraud Class Action Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Washington Mutual and individual officer defendants alleging securities law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Hoffman v. Construction Protective Services: Ninth Circuit Affirms Order Barring Plaintiffs From Introducing Evidence Of Damages At Trial Of Labor Law Class Action Due To Plaintiffs’ Failure To Disclose Damages
Posted on October 28, 2008FLSA Class Action Plaintiffs Required to Disclose Evidence of Computation of Damages under Rule 26(a) and Failure to do so Justified District Court Order Granting Motion In Limine Barring such Damages Evidence at Trial as Sanction under Rule 37 Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Construction Protective Services alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and of the California Labor Code...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Hoffman v. Citibank: Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court Order Dismissing Class Action And Compelling Arbitration And Remands For Reanalysis Of Whether Class Action Waiver In Arbitration Agreement Was Enforceable
Posted on October 27, 2008District Court Order in Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Class Action Dismissing Class Action Complaint and Compelling Arbitration of Plaintiff’s Individual Claims Reversed and Remanded for Further Consideration because District Court’s Analysis of Whether South Dakota Law or California Law Applied was Flawed Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Citibank in California state court alleging violations of the state’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL); specifically, the class action “alleged that Citibank increased the class members’ interest rates retroactively, without advance notice, resulting in additional lump sum finance charges being improperly imposed...
New Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Labor Law Claims Maintain Top Spot In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 25, 2008As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Countrywide Financial: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To Southern District of California
Posted on October 24, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Opposed by Some Class Action Plaintiffs and Two Attorneys General, but Transfers Actions to Southern District of California Seven class actions – three in the Central District of California, two in the Southern District of California, one in Illinois and one in Kentucky – were filed against Countrywide Financial Corp...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re Lucent Death Benefits: Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of ERISA Class Action Agreeing That Pension Benefit Was Unvested And Terminable By Lucent
Posted on October 23, 2008District Court Properly Dismissed ERISA Class Action because Employer’s Termination of Pensioner Death Benefits Underlying Class Action Claims were “an Unvested Welfare Benefit” and ERISA did not Prohibit Termination of the Benefit Third Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, former employees of AT&T and Lucent Technologies, filed a putative class action against various defendants alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants violated ERISA in terminating a pensioner death benefit...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Ceridian: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Allegations Of Class Action Complaint Failed To Establish Scienter Required Under PSLRA
Posted on October 22, 2008Securities Fraud Class Action Failed to Adequately Allege Scienter under Heightened Pleading Requirements of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) so District Court Properly Granted Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action Complaint Eighth Circuit Holds After Ceridian Corporation publicly disclosed accounting errors that “necessitated multiple amendments and restatements of its published financial statements,” the SEC opened an investigation into the company’s accounting practices and “numerous class action complaints were filed against Ceridian and three former corporate officers...
Class Action Defense Cases–Gene & Gene v. BioPay: Fifth Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification Of TCPA Class Action Holding Plaintiff Failed To Establish Class-Wide Proof Existed As To Issue Of Consent To Receive Fax Advertisements
Posted on October 21, 2008Class Action Alleging Violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Improperly Certified as Class Action because Issue of Consent to Receipt of Fax Advertisements not Susceptible to Class-Wide Proof Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against BioPay alleging violations of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), 47 U...
PSLRA Home Depot Class Action Defense Cases–Mizzaro v. Home Depot: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Satisfy PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on October 20, 2008Securities Fraud Class Action Properly Dismissed by District Court because Class Action Complaint Failed to Allege Scienter under Heightened Pleadings Requirements of the PSLRA (Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) Eleventh Circuit Holds In May 2006, plaintiff John Mizzaro filed a securities fraud class action against Home Depot and six of its officers and directors; the gravamen of the class action complaint was that “(1) Home Depot obtained excessive rebates from its vendors, and (2) violated the securities laws by not informing investors that the financial results it reported for fiscal years 2001-2004 were inflated by these excessive rebates...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Dominate New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 18, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases–Rojas v. Brinderson: California Federal Court Dismisses Labor Law Class Action For Failure To Allege Facts Necessary To Establish Class Action Claim
Posted on October 17, 2008Class Action Claim on which Federal Court’s Original Jurisdiction was Based Dismissed for Failure to Plead Necessary Elements, and Supplemental Jurisdiction over Remaining Labor Law Class Action Claims will not be Exercised California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs-employees filed a labor law class action against Brinderson Constructors; the class action complaint contained five wage and hour claims, and a claim for alleged violation of California Labor Code section 2810...
iPhone Class Action Defense Cases–In re Apple & AT&TM: California Federal Court Denies Motions To Dismiss Antitrust Class Action And To Compel Individual Arbitration Of Class Action Claims
Posted on October 16, 2008Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged Antitrust and Consumer Protection Law Violations Arising out of Marketing and Sale of iPhones, and Class Action Waiver in AT&T Arbitration Agreement was Unconscionable thereby Requiring Denial of Motion to Dismiss Class Action Claims and Compel Arbitration of Individual Claims, California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Apple and AT&T Mobility (ATTM) alleging violations of federal antitrust laws and other consumer protection statutes arising out of the sale of iPhones; the class action complaint alleged that “consumers were offered iPhones only if they signed a two-year service agreement with AT&T Mobility” and that “unknown to consumers, the companies had agreed to technologically restrict voice and data service in the aftermarket for continued voice and data services, i...
Arbitration Class Action Defense Cases–Pleasants v. American Express: Eighth Circuit Affirms Order Dismissing Class Action And Compelling Arbitration Of Individual Claim Holding Class Action Waiver In Arbitration Clause Enforceable Under FAA
Posted on October 15, 2008District Court Properly Dismissed Class Action and Granted Defense Motion to Compel Plaintiff to Arbitrate her Claims on an Individual Basis, Rather than as a Class Action, because Class Action Waiver in Arbitration Clause was not Substantively or Procedurally Unconscionable Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against American Express Company and American Express Incentive Services (AEIS) alleging violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that American Express violated TILA by “issuing pre-loaded, stored-value cards without making the disclosures required under the TILA...
Class Action Defense Cases–Shirk v. Fifth Third Bancorp: Ohio Federal Court Certifies ERISA Class Action Holding Rule 23’s Class Action Requirements Were Met And That ERISA Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claims Are Appropriate For Class Action Treat
Posted on October 14, 2008ERISA Class Action Claims Satisfied Requirements for Class Action Treatment because “Federal Courts have Overwhelmingly Held that ERISA Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims are Appropriate for Class Action Treatment” Ohio Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, former employees of Fifth Third Bancorp and participants in the company’s profit sharing plan, filed a class action against various defendants alleging breach of fiduciary duties under ERISA; specifically, the class action complaint asserted that the company’s stock was an “imprudent investment” during the proposed class period...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Hewlett-Packard v. Superior Court: California Court Denies Writ Seeking Reversal Of Class Action Certification Order In Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Class Action
Posted on October 13, 2008Class Action Complaint Alleging Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) Properly Certified as Class Action because Class Action’s Product Defect Claims were Susceptible of Common Proof and Objection to Class Action Treatment went to Merits of the Lawsuit California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Hewlett-Packard alleging inter alia violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL); specifically, the class action alleged that HP sold laptop computers knowing that they contained a manufacturing defect that “the computers had defective inverters that could potentially cause dim displays,” but HP failed to disclose this fact to prospective purchasers...
Slow Week For Class Actions Dominated By Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits In New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 11, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Roussell v. Brinker International: Texas Federal Court Decertifies FLSA Class Action Holding Central Question Could Not Be Resolved Fairly In Single Collective Proceeding
Posted on October 10, 2008Class Action Alleging Employer Coerced Restaurant Employees to Share Tips in Violation of Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Decertified as Class Action because “Critical Questions of Fact” in Proposed Class Action “Vary from Plaintiff to Plaintiff and Restaurant to Restaurant” Texas Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against her employer, Brinker International, alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); specifically, plaintiff alleged that at its Chili’s restaurants, defendant required that servers share their tips with “Quality Assurance employees (QAs)...
PSRLA Class Action Defense Cases–Little Gem v. Orphan Medical: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements Under PSLRA
Posted on October 09, 2008Securities Class Action Properly Dismissed for Failure of Allegations in Class Action Complaint to Meet PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Standards because Defendants were Under no Legal Duty to “Search out and Disclose” Raw Data of FDA Clinical Trials Prior to FDA Issuing Results of Drug Trial Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against Orphan Medical and two of its officers for violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants “negligently failed to disclose material information to Orphan's stockholders before asking the stockholders to approve Orphan's merger with [Jazz Pharmaceuticals], in violation of §§ 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934…, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 14a-9...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re Dynamic Random Access Memory: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Antitrust Class Action For Lack Of Subject Matter Jurisdiction Under Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvement Act (FTAIA)
Posted on October 08, 2008Congressional Amendments in Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvement Act (FTAIA) to Sherman Act’s Jurisdiction Barred Foreign Plaintiff Corporation’s Antitrust Class Action Claims Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff, a British computer manufacturer, filed a class action complaint against “U...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Silverman v. Motorola: Illinois Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss Certain Claims In Securities Class Action Finding Some Class Action Allegations Inadequate Under PSRLA
Posted on October 07, 2008Defense Motion to Dismiss Securities Class Action Claims Granted in Part, but Class Action Plaintiffs Adequately Alleged Existence of Certain Omissions or Misrepresentations as to Most Defendants as well as Control Person Liability as to All Individual Defendants Illinois Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Motorola and some of its officers and directors alleging violations of federal securities law; the class action complaint alleged that defendants artificially inflated the company’s stock price by issuing statements that omitted important facts or contained material misrepresentations in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5...
Class Action Defense Cases–Rhodes v. DuPont: West Virginia Federal Court Denies Class Action Certification In Putative Medical Monitoring Class Action Holding Individualized Inquiries Would Predominate
Posted on October 06, 2008Class Action Seeking Medical Monitoring due to Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water Denied Class Action Treatment because Plaintiffs Failed to Demonstrate Existence of Common Proof as to Each Class Member’s Injuries West Virginia Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in West Virginia state court against E...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Dominate New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on October 04, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the kinds of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Mutual Funds: Maryland Federal Court Grants Motion To Compel In ERISA Class Action Holding Fiduciaries Waived Attorney-Client/Work Product Doctrines By Producing Documents To Regulators
Posted on October 03, 2008Production of Documents to Regulators Pursuant to Confidentiality Agreement Constituted a Waiver of Attorney-Client/Work Product Doctrines Entitling Class Action Plaintiffs to Documents in ERISA Class Action Maryland Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs, former employees of Scudder/Deutsche Former who had participated in defined contribution retirement plans, filed a class action against various defendants for violations of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendants breached fiduciary duties owed under ERISA by engaging in market timing and late trading in connection with the plans’ investment in mutual funds...
Wal-Mart Class Action Defense Cases–Salvas v. Wal-Mart: Massachusetts Reverses Decertification Of Labor Law Class Action (And Grant Of Summary Judgment On Class Action Claims) Holding Predominance Test Had Been Satisfied
Posted on October 02, 2008Labor Law Class Action Erroneously Decertified because Evidence Submitted by Class Action Plaintiffs Concerning Nationwide Practices was Relevant to Predominance of Class Action Claims of Massachusetts Employees Supreme Judicial Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against their former employer, Wal-Mart, alleging labor law violations; the class action complaint alleged that Wal-Mart “wrongfully withheld compensation for time worked and denied of cut short rest and meal breaks to which they were entitled...
FDCPA Class Action Defense Cases–Barany-Snyder v. Weiner: Sixth Circuit Affirms Judgment On The Pleadings on FDCPA Class Action Holding Attachment Of Entire Contract To Debt Collection Complaint Was Not An Effort To Enforce Each Term In Contract
Posted on October 01, 2008Class Action Complaint Failed to Adequately Allege Violations of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because Mere Attachment of Entire Contract with Unenforceable Attorney Fee Clause to Debt Collection Complaint Underlying Class Action was not an Attempt to Collect Attorney Fees where Debt Collection Complaint did not Pray for Such Fees Sixth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint in Ohio federal court against two debt collection attorneys and the law firm where they worked, Keith D...
Class Action Defense Cases–Lee v. Dynamex: California Court Reverses Denial Of Class Action Certification Holding Erroneous Discovery Ruling Precluded Plaintiff From Meeting Burden Of Showing Commonality And Typicality Of Claims
Posted on September 30, 2008Trial Court Erroneous Order in Labor Law Class Action Denying Motion to Compel Discovery of Contact Information of Putative Class Members Deprived Plaintiff of Opportunity to Develop Evidence Required to Support Motion for Class Action Certification thus Requiring Remand California Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against parcel delivery company, Dynamex, alleging labor law violations; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Dynamex, a nationwide courier and delivery service, “had improperly reclassified the drivers from employees to independent contractors in violation of California law...
Class Action Defense Cases–In re Merck: Third Circuit Reinstates Class Action Against Merck Holding District Court Erred In Dismissing Securities Class Action Because Class Action Plaintiffs Were Not On Inquiry Notice Sufficient To Time Bar Claims
Posted on September 29, 2008Fact Stock Price did not React to “Storm Warnings” Contradicted District Court Finding that Class Action Plaintiffs were on Inquiry Notice of Class Action Claims so as to Commence Statute of Limitations Third Circuit Holds “[Plaintiffs], purchasers of Merck & Co...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Epogen & Aranesp: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff’s To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Send Class Actions Back To Central District Of California
Posted on September 28, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Over Objection of Certain Class Action Plaintiffs and Defendants and Objection of Common Defendant, but Transfers Class Actions Back to Central District of California, Where Class Actions Originally had been Filed Five nationwide class actions were filed in five different federal courts against common defendant Amgen and various other defendants; the class action lawsuits “concern[ed] Amgen’s marketing of its Epogen and Aranesp anemia drugs, and they also all involve alleged violations of California statutory law...
New Class Action Lawsuits Asserting Employment-Related Claims Hold Top Spot Among New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on September 27, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
TILA Class Action Defense Cases–Andrews v. Chevy Chase: Seventh Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification Of TILA Class Action Against Chevy Chase Bank Holding Rescission Not Available In Class Actions Under TILA
Posted on September 26, 2008Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA) Class Action Lawsuit Erroneously Granted Class Action Status because TILA does not Permit Rescission as a Class Action Remedy only Damages Seventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Chevy Chase Bank for violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 15 U...
Attorney Fee Class Action Defense Cases–In re Nortel Networks: Second Circuit Affirms Class Action Attorney Fee Award Of 3% Of Value Of Nortel Securities Class Action Settlement Rather Than 8.5% Negotiated With Lead Plaintiff
Posted on September 25, 2008District Court Order Reducing Fee Award from 8.5% Negotiated with Lead Plaintiff to 3% of Value of Securities Class Action Settlement not Subject to Attack on PSLRA Grounds because Argument Waived as not Raised below and Attorney Fee Award is Reasonable Second Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action complaint against Nortel Networks alleging violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action alleged that defendant “knowingly and recklessly issued false and misleading statements and engaged in various accounting manipulations causing its stock price to be inflated between October 24, 2000 and February 15, 2001...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Lloyd v. General Motors: Maryland Federal Court Denies Motion To Remand Class Action Holding That Under Maryland Law Amendment Adding New Plaintiffs Commenced New Action Under Class Action Fairness Act
Posted on September 24, 2008Products Liability Class Action Complaint Originally Filed in 1999 Removable under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) because Maryland Law Holds Amendments that Add New Party Plaintiffs do not Relate Back so 2007 Amendment to Add New Named Plaintiffs Commenced New Class Action under CAFA Maryland Federal Court Holds In 1999, plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Maryland state court against four automobile manufacturers seeking “damages arising from the cost of replacing allegedly defective seating systems”; Eight years later, defense attorneys removed the class action to federal court on the ground that removal jurisdiction existed under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA)...
Attorney Fees Class Action Defense Cases–Mark v. Spencer: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of Lawsuit Seeking Damages Under Fee-Splitting Agreement Underlying Class Action Following Class Action Court Fee Award Inconsistent With Agreement
Posted on September 23, 2008Trial Court Properly Dismissed Lawsuit Seeking Recovery under Fee-Splitting Agreement underlying Class Action because Attorney-Plaintiff Failed to Disclose Fee Agreement to Class Action Court as Required by California Law and because Attorneys’ Respective Rights to Fees were Finally Determined by Class Action Court, thus Barring Subsequent Action under Doctrine of Res Judicata, California State Court Holds Plaintiff, attorney Ronald Mark, was retained by an individual to commence a labor law class action against his former employer, General Nutrition Corporation (GNC); prior to filing the class action complaint, plaintiff asked defendant, attorney Jeffery Spencer, to serve a co-counsel in the class action litigation, and the attorneys signed a written agreement that proposed to split any fee award 50-50, subject to renegotiation in the event that one of them fails to perform an equal share of the work...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Hutchinson: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Holding Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet Heightened Pleading Requirements Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA)
Posted on September 22, 2008Securities Class Action Properly Dismissed because Allegations in Class Action Complaint Failed to Meet PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Hutchinson Technology and six of its officers and directors alleging violations of federal securities law; the class action complaint asserted claims under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and under Rule 10b-5 of the Securities and Exchange Commission implementing regulation, as well as control person liability under Section 20 of the 1934 Act...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Maintain Dominance Among New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts In Heavy Week For New Class Action Cases
Posted on September 20, 2008In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California state and federal courts, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Family Dollar Stores: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To Western District Of North Carolina
Posted on September 19, 2008Over Objection of Defense Attorneys, Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Agrees with Defendant that Class Actions should be Centralized in Western District of North Carolina Nine class action lawsuits were filed against Family Dollar Stores alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); specifically, the class action complaints alleged that under the FLSA defendant’s store managers are entitled to overtime pay...
Class Action Defense Cases–Peck v. Cingular: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action Holding That Federal Communications Act Did Not Preempt State Law Requiring Disclosure Of Line Item Charges
Posted on September 18, 2008Class Action Against Wireless Service Provider Challenging Whether Carrier may Pass Business tax through to Customers Without Specifically Disclosing it Service Contract not Preempted by FCA (Federal Communications Act) because State Law did not Seek to Regulate Rates but Rather “Other Terms and Conditions” of Wireless Service Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in Washington state court against his wireless service provider, Cingular, alleging that it improperly passed on to its customers the “business and occupation tax” (B & O Tax) levied by the state; according to the class action complaint, Cingular’s monthly invoices to plaintiff included a $0...
Class Action Defense Cases–Newby v. Enron: Fifth Circuit Partially Partially Affirms District Court Order Denying Law Firm Leave To File New State Law Claims Involving Enron But Reverses As To Claims Governed By Four-Year Limitations Period
Posted on September 17, 2008Pursuant to District Court Order Enjoining Law Firm from Filing Further Lawsuits Involving Collapse of Enron Absent Leave of Court, District Court Properly Denied Leave to File 24 New Lawsuits in Texas State Court Seeking to Assert 7 New Claims, but only as to those Claims Subject to Two-Year or Three-Year Statutes of Limitation, Requiring Reversal of District Court Order as to Proposed New Claims Subject to Four-Year Limitations Periods Fifth Circuit Hold, but only as to those Claims Subject to Two-Year or Three-Year Statutes of Limitation, Requiring Reversal of District Court Order as to Proposed New Claims Subject to Four-Year Limitations Periods In 2001, a Houston law firm (Fleming & Associates) filed several individual and class action lawsuits in Texas state courts against Enron, its accounting firm, and various officers; the class action and individual complaints were brought on behalf of shareholders and arose of the collapse of Enron’s stock price...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–White v. Coca-Cola: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Employer In ERISA Class Action Holding Plan Administrator’s Decision To Reduce Benefits Based On Social Security Benefits Was Reasonable
Posted on September 16, 2008District Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment in Class Action Alleging Coca-Cola Violated ERISA by Interpreting Plan so as to Permit an Offset Based on Receipt of Social Security Benefits and to Recoup Overpayment of Benefits Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, participants in long term disability plan, filed a class action against their employer, Coca-Cola, in its capacity as sponsor and administrator of a benefits plan alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); specifically, the class action complaint challenged the plan administrators “reduction of benefits under a long-term-disability plan based on a participant's receipt of Social Security disability benefits...
Arbitration Class Action Defense Cases–McKee v. AT&T: Washington State Court Holds Class Action Waiver Arbitration Clause Enforceable Affirming Trial Court Order Denying AT&T’s Motion To Compel Arbitration Of Class Action
Posted on September 15, 2008Class Action Complaint Properly Kept in State Court Rather than Referred to Arbitration because Class Action Waiver Provision in Arbitration Clause Rendered Dispute Resolution Provision of Consumer Service Agreement Unenforceable as Unconscionable Washington State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against AT&T alleging that it wrongly charged him “city utility surcharges and usurious late fees”; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that plaintiff signed up with AT&T for long distance telephone service, and that his monthly bills “included a Wenatchee city utility tax surcharge, even though he lives outside the Wenatchee city limits...
Class Action Lawsuits Involving Employment-Related Claims Retain Top Spot Among New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on September 13, 2008As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Aqua Dots: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District of Illinois
Posted on September 12, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Class Action Plaintiffs, and Transfers Actions to Northern District of Illinois Seven class actions were filed against defendants Spin Master Ltd...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Puerto Rican Cabotage: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To District Of Puerto Rico
Posted on September 12, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, Unopposed by Other Class Action Plaintiffs or Defendants, but Rejects Southern District of Florida in Favor of District of Puerto Rico as Appropriate Transferee Court Five class actions – three in the Southern District of Florida, one in the Middle District of Florida and one in the District of Puerto Rico – were filed against Horizon Lines and others alleging “that defendants conspired to fix prices of cabotage services to and from Puerto Rico in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act...
Medicare Class Action Defense Cases–Uhm v. Humana: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Complaint Holding State Law Claims Concerning Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Fell Within Express Preemption Of Federal Law
Posted on September 11, 2008Class Action Claims Concerning Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Fell Within Express Preemption Provision of Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 so District Court did not Err in Grant Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action Complaint Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action complaint against Humana Health Plan, Inc...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases - Louisiana v. Allstate: Fifth Circuit Holds State's Parens Patriae Lawsuit Removable To Federal Court Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Based On "Real Parties In Interest" And "Real Nature" Of Action
Posted on September 10, 2008Antitrust Lawsuit Brought by State on Behalf of Insurance Policyholders as a Parens Patriae Action, not a Class Action, Removable to Federal Court under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) because “Real Parties in Interest” were Policyholders and “Real Nature” of Lawsuit was “Mass Action” Fifth Circuit Holds The State of Louisiana filed a parens patriae action (not a class action) against numerous insurance companies, including Allstate, State Farm, Farmers and USAA, alleging violations of the state’s antitrust laws; specifically, the complaint alleged that defendants “worked together to form a ‘combination’ that illegally suppressed competition in the insurance and related industries” and that “[i]n a scheme to thwart policyholder indemnity and in direct violation of their fiduciary duties, insurer defendants and others continuously manipulated Louisiana commerce by rigging the value of policyholder claims and raising the premiums held in trust by their companies for the benefit of policy holders to cover their losses as taught by McKinsey Company...
Class Action Defense Cases–Yabsley v. Cingular: California State Court Affirms Dismissal Of UCL Class Action Holding Administrative Regulation Created Safe Harbor For Class Action's False Advertising Claims Against Cingular
Posted on September 09, 2008Class Action Challenging Wireless Phone Company’s Advertisements of Discounted Cell Phone Prices as False for Failing to Disclose that Sales Tax would be Calculated based on the Non-Discounted Price Falls within Safe Harbor Provision of State Administrative Regulation thereby Warranting Dismissal of Class Action Complaint California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action in California state court against Cingular Wireless alleging violations of the state’s unfair competition law (UCL): According to the class action complaint, Cingular advertises that it will give purchasers a 50% discount off the retail price of a wireless phone they enroll in a calling plan package...
Class Action Defense Cases–Owner-Operator v. Landstar: Eleventh Circuit Reverses Judgment In Favor Of Defense But Affirms Decertification Of Class Action Status
Posted on September 08, 2008District Court Certified Class Action but Subsequently Decertified Class Action as to Damages because of “Unique and Individualized Proof” Required by Class Action Allegations Eleventh Circuit Holds The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which “represents truck owners and truck drivers who enter into lease agreements to provide equipment and services to haul freight in interstate commerce for Landstar System,” a U...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Regain Top Spot Among New Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts During Past Week
Posted on September 06, 2008In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California state and federal courts, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Washington Mutual: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Western District of Washington
Posted on June 13, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Motion, Unopposed by Most Class Action Plaintiffs, for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Centralizes Class Actions in Western District of Washington Seven (7) class action lawsuits – five in Washington and two in New York – were filed against defendants Washington Mutual alleging ?misrepresentations or omissions concerning WaMu?s financial condition with respect to its subprime home loan portfolio...
Class Action Defense Cases–Chavez v. Netflix: California Court Upholds Trial Court Approval Of Class Action Settlement Providing Customers With One-Day Free Rental And Awarding $2 Million In Attorney Fees
Posted on June 12, 2008Class Action Settlement was not a “Coupon” Settlement and Trial Court did not Abuse its Discretion in Approving Class Action Settlement or Awarding Class Counsel $2 Million in Attorney Fees California State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action lawsuit against Netflix, Inc...
Vioxx Class Action Defense Cases–Sinclair v. Merck: New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Class Action Seeking Medical Monitoring For Use Of Vioxx Properly Dismissed By Trial Court Because Class Action Plaintiffs Did Not Allege Harm
Posted on June 11, 2008Class Action’s Failure to Allege Manifest Injury Precludes Medical Monitoring Remedy Sought in Products Liability Class Action based on Use of Vioxx New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a products liability class action against Merck in New Jersey state court arising out of the use of the prescription drug Vioxx; the class action complaint sought to “recover the costs of medical monitoring despite [plaintiffs’] failure to allege a physical injury...
Class Action Defense Cases–Van Zanen v. Qwest: Tenth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Class Action Unjust Enrichment Claim Holding Violation Of Insurance Licensing Statute Insufficient To Support Class Action Claim
Posted on June 10, 2008Class Action Unjust Enrichment Claim Properly Dismissed because even assuming Defendant Violated Insurance Licensing Statute Plaintiffs Received Value for Services Provided by Qwest so Granting Plaintiffs Restitution “would Effect an Injustice” Tenth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Qwest Wireless, LLC, Qwest Services Corporation, and Qwest Communications International, Inc...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Williams v. Gerber Products: Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action Holding False Advertising On Front Of Box Not Cured By Accurate Ingredient List On Side Of Box
Posted on June 10, 2008Class Action Alleging Fraudulent Advertising Erroneously Dismissed Because Consumers not Required to Read Ingredient List to Correct Deceptive Advertising Claims Underlying Class Action Complaint Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Gerber Products alleging inter alia violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); specifically, the class action complaint alleged that Gerber’s Fruit Juice Snacks were deceptively marketed because the packaging – which shows images of various fruits “such as oranges, peaches, strawberries, and cherries” – would lead a reasonable consumer to believe that the juices of these fruits were included in the products when in reality “the only juice contained in the product was white grape juice from concentrate...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re 2007 NovaStar Financial: Missouri Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Complaint Concluding Class Action Failed To Satisfy PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on June 09, 2008Class Action Complaint Failed to Plead Securities Fraud with Specificity Required by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) thus Subjecting Class Action to Motion to Dismiss without Leave to Amend Missouri Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against NovaStar Financial and three of its directors alleging securities fraud violations...
Labor Law Class Action Cases Top List Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on June 07, 2008In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases?Hoenemier v. Sun Microsystems: California Trial Court Grants Plaintiff?s Motion To Certify Labor Law Class Action Alleging Sun Microsystems Improperly Characterized Techinical Writers As Exempt Employees
Posted on June 06, 2008Class Action Against Sun Microsystems Alleging Misclassification of Technical Writers as Exempt Employees Warrants Class Action Treatment California State Trial Court Holds On May 13, 2008, the California Superior Court for the County of Santa Clara entered an order granting plaintiff's motion to certify a class action lawsuit against Sun Microsystems and SeeBeyond Technology...
Class Action Defense Cases–Borochoff v. GlaxoSmithKline: New York Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Alleging Securities Law Violations Finding Complaint Failed To Satisfy PSLRA Pleading Requirements
Posted on June 05, 2008Class Action Failed to Adequately Allege Securities Law Violations because Pharmaceutical Company’s Meta-Analyses were Inconclusive and because Class Action Failed to Adequately Plead Scienter New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and certain individual officers and directors of GSK for violations of federal securities laws; specifically, the class action complaint alleged violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and of Rule 10b-5 on the grounds that defendants failed to disclose the truth about its meta-analysis in connection with its diabetes drug, Avandia...
CAFA Class Action Defense Removal Cases–Springman v. AIG: Seventh Circuit Affirms Denial Of Plaintiff’s Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Upholding Removal Jurisdiction Under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA)
Posted on June 04, 2008Amendment of Class Action Complaint to Add Party-Defendant Years after Plaintiff Learned Defendant’s Identity Constituted a New Action Under Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA) thereby Creating CAFA Removal Jurisdiction over Class Action Seventh Circuit Holds In July 2003, plaintiff file a putative class action in Illinois state court against AIG Claim Services and Illinois National Insurance Company for violations of state fraud and consumer protection laws; the class action complaint alleged that AIG Claim Services, in processing claims under Illinois National insurance policies, systematically underpaid accident insurance benefits...
UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Williams v. Gerber: Ninth Circuit Holds Class Action Complaint Improperly Dismissed Because Class Action’s False Advertising Claims May Have Deceived Reasonable Consumer
Posted on June 03, 2008Class Action Alleging False Advertising Claims Improperly Dismissed because Factual Questions Existed as to Whether Statements were Deceptive and because Accuracy of Ingredient List did not Insulate Defendant from Liability Based on Misleading Nature of Statements on Front of Product Box Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Gerber Products Company alleging, inter alia, violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA); the class action complaint claimed that Gerber “deceptively marketed” its “Fruit Juice Snacks,” which are part of Gerber’s “Graduates for Toddlers” line of products...
Class Action Defense Cases–Sharp v. Next: California Court Affirms Trial Court Order Refusing To Disqualify Plaintiffs’ Class Action Counsel And Refusing To Remove All Plaintiffs From Serving As Class Action Representatives
Posted on June 02, 2008Potential Conflict Between Labor Organization Financing Class Action Litigation and Individual Named Plaintiffs in Class Action Lawsuits did not Disqualification of Plaintiffs’ Class Action Counsel, Funded by Labor Organization, because Conflict Waivers Signed by Plaintiffs and Labor Group were Effective and Trial Court did not Err in Refusing to Disqualify Named Plaintiffs from Prosecuting Class Actions as Motion was Premature California State Court Holds The Writers Guild of America is a labor organization that represents film, television, news and other media writers; the Guild held several meetings with writers of reality television programs because it believed that reality TV show employees were not provided breaks or overtime pay as required by California law...
Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuit Filings Drop But Labor Law Class Actions Retain Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Cases Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 31, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re PepsiCo: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Southern District of New York
Posted on May 30, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Motion, Unopposed by Any Class Action Plaintiff, for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Centralizes Class Actions in Southern District of New York Four class action lawsuits – two in New York, one in Tennessee and one in Texas – were filed against defendants PepsiCo and Pepsi Bottling Group alleging that defendants ?misled consumers of its Aquafina bottled water into believing that the water source of Aquafina was something different from and better than tap water...
Class Action Defense Removal Cases–Gerlinger v. Amazon.com: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Antitrust Class Action Because Plaintiff Lacked Standing To Pursue Class Action
Posted on May 29, 2008Antitrust Class Action Properly Dismissed with Prejudice because Plaintiff Failed to Establish Injury-in-Fact Required for Article III Standing to Prosecute Class Action Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Amazon.com and book-seller Borders Group alleging antitrust violations; the class action complaint alleged that, following unsuccessful attempts to operate its own online website, Borders entered into an agreement with Amazon to “direct[] shoppers to what is known as a mirror website, a site hosted by Amazon...
Time Warner Class Action Defense Cases–Clark v. Time Warner: Ninth Circuit Affirms "Primary Jurisdiction" Dismissal of Class Action And Referral To FCC Of Issue Central To Class Action Complaint
Posted on May 28, 2008District Court Dismissal of Class Action Complaint and Referral to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of “Novel and Technical Question” of Issue Central to Class Action Claims was Proper Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Time Warner Cable alleging that it engaged in the practice of “slamming” in violation of 47 U...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases–TJX v. Superior Court: California Court Holds One-Year Limitations Period Applies To Class Action Complaint Under Song-Beverly Act And Class Action Complaint Cannot Include Merchandise Return Transactions
Posted on May 27, 2008Class Action Alleging Violations of California’s Song-Beverly Act Limited by One-Year Statute of Limitations Period and cannot Encompass Customers from Whom Information was Sought as Part of Merchandise Return Transactions because Song-Beverly does not Apply to Returns, only Point of Sale, California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against TJX, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and other defendants alleging violations of California’ Song-Beverly Act, Civil Code § 1747 et seq...
Class Action Defense Issues–New York Attorney General Wins “Class Action” Against Dell Alleging Fraud, False Advertising And Deceptive Business Practices
Posted on May 27, 2008In May 2007, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit against Dell and Dell Financial Services (collectively “Dell”) on behalf of New York residents alleging that it advertised “attractively priced computer packages, promotional financing that typically features a no interest and/or no payment period, large rebates, and free or upgraded accessories,” but that “many of the benefits and inducements featured in Dell's advertisements are illusory...
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY FROM THE CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Posted on May 26, 2008The author of the Class Action Defense Blog wishes all of you a very happy Memorial Day. A new class action article, summarizing the recent California Court of Appeal opinion discussing California's Song-Beverly Act, will be published tomorrow.
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Dominate List Of Weekly Class Action Cases Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 24, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases—In re Texas Roadhouse: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Northern District of Illinois
Posted on May 23, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 over Defense Objection Two class action lawsuits – one in Illinois and one in Pennsylvania – were filed in against defendants Texas Roadhouse Holdings LLC and Texas Roadhouse, Inc...
FCRA Class Action Defense Cases–Sullivan v. Greenwood Credit Union: In Case Of First Impression First Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In FCRA Class Action Holding Creditor’s Letter Was A “Firm Offer” Under FCRA
Posted on May 22, 2008Affirming Summary Judgment in Favor of Defense in Class Action Alleging Violations of FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), Class Action Complaint Properly Dismissed because, as Matter of First Impression, Offer of Credit Satisfies FCRA if Creditor will not Deny Credit to Consumers who Meet Pre-Selection Criteria First Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action against Greenwood Credit Union alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) arising out of “an unsolicited letter to a consumer about the offering of credit for a home loan...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Korn v. Polo Ralph Lauren: California Federal Court Denies Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Holding Defense Established Class Action Alleging Song-Beverly Act Violations Involved More Than $5 Million
Posted on May 21, 2008Defense Evidence in Support of Removal of Class Action to Federal Court Adequately Established Removal Jurisdiction under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) California Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action lawsuit in California state court against Polo Ralph Lauren alleging violations of California?s Song-Beverly Act; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant requested personal information from customers as part of credit card transactions in violation of California Civil Code § 1747...
Class Action Defense Cases–ChartOne v. Raglon: Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Class Action Certification Of Lawsuit Alleging Fees Charged For Medical Records Exceeded Amounts Allowable By Statute
Posted on May 20, 2008Class Action Complaint Challenging as Excessive Fees Charged for Medical Records Properly Certified as Class Action because Defense Challenges to Class Action Treatment Went to Issues of Damages or to the Merits, Neither of Which Defeat Class Action Certification Arkansas Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in Arkansas state court against ChartOne, “a health-information management company that provides copying services of medical records for doctors, hospitals, and other medical-care providers throughout Arkansas,” alleging that the fees it charged for copying medical records exceeded the amount allowed by statute...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Pew v. Cardarelli: Second Circuit Holds District Court Erred In Remanding Class Action Because Exception To CAFA Removal Jurisdiction Limited To "Disputes Over The Meaning Of The Terms Of A Security"
Posted on May 19, 2008District Court Erred in Remanding Class Action to State Court because while Class Action Complaint Involved Sale of Securities it was Premised on Fraudulent Concealment of Company’s Financial Condition so Exception to CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) Removal Jurisdiction did not Apply Second Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in New York state court against various defendants, including Agway (the issuer) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (its auditor), alleging violations of New York’s consumer fraud statute; specifically, the class action complaint asserted “that officers of an issuer – abetted by the issuer’s auditor – failed to disclose, while marketing certain debt certificates, that the issuer was insolvent...
Labor Law Class Action Cases Continue To Top List Of Weekly Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 17, 2008As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Venue Class Action Defense Cases– Totilo v. Herbert: New York Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Transfer Class Action Lawsuit To Georgia
Posted on May 16, 2008Deference Afforded Plaintiff’s Choice of Forum “Diminished” in Class Action Cases, and Factors Affecting Convenience of Parties/Witnesses and Interests of Justice Supported Transfer of Class Action to Georgia under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against former officers of NetBank, FSB, a failed Internet bank that had been taken over by the Office of Thrift Supervision; the class action purported to be on behalf of bank depositors and alleged inter alia fraud, negligence and violations of new York’s consumer protection statute...
Wells Fargo Class Action Defense Cases—In re Wells Fargo Mortgage Lending Practices: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Transfers Class Actions To California
Posted on May 16, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 of Class Action Lawsuits Alleging Discriminatory Lending Practices, but Agrees with California Plaintiffs that Northern District of California is Appropriate Transferee Court Four class action lawsuits (3 in California and 1 in Illinois) were filed against Wells Fargo alleging discriminatory pricing in its mortgage loan products...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–Loughman v. Unum: New York Federal Court Grants Defense Summary Judgment Motion In ERISA Class Action Holding Policies Excluded Plainly Coverage During Elimination Period
Posted on May 15, 2008ERISA Class Action Alleging Failure to Pay Benefits Premised on Strained Reading of Long-Term Disability Insurance Policies and Defense Entitled to Partial Summary Judgment as to certain Class Action Claims New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action lawsuit against Unum Provident Corporation, Unum Life Insurance Company of America, First Unum Life Insurance Company and Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company (collectively, “Unum”) alleging violations of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act)...
California Supreme Court Issues Widely Watched Decision On Same Sex Marriages And Strikes Down State Ban On Same Sex Marriages As Unconstitutional
Posted on May 15, 2008In Split Decision, California Supreme Court Holds that State's Ban on Same Sex Marriages is Unconstitutional; Concurring and Dissenting Opinions Conclude that Legality of Same Sex Marriages is a Legislative rather than Judicial Matter While the six cases consolidated for argument before the California Supreme Court were not class action lawsuits, the author has received numerous inquiries from attorneys, both from within the State of California and from sister states, inquiring into the status of the California Supreme Court decision in the same sex marriage cases...
GlaxoSmithKline Class Action Defense Cases–In re Wellbutrin: Pennsylvania Federal Court Certifies Class Action Against GlaxoSmithKline In Antitrust Class Action By Direct Purchasers Of Antidepressant Drug
Posted on May 14, 2008Antitrust Class Action by Assignees of Direct Purchasers of Antidepressant Wellbutrin SR Satisfied Rule 23 Class Action Requirements Pennsylvania Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action complaint against SmithKline Beecham Corporation dba GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) alleging antitrust violations arising out of its manufacture and sale of the antidepressant drug Wellbutrin SR...
Kraft FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–Spoerle v. Kraft: Wisconsin Federal Court Certifies Class Action Of Class Action Complaint Alleging Labor Law Violations For Failure To Compensate Employees For Doffing/Donning Protective Gear
Posted on May 13, 2008Class Action Complaint Alleging Failure to Pay Employees for Time Incurred Doffing and Donning Protective Gear Satisfied Rule 23 Requirements for Class Action Certification Wisconsin Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a labor law class action against their employer, Kraft Foods, alleging violations of the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for failure to pay them for time spent doffing and donning protective gear at a meat processing plant; the class action complaint alleged that employees were required “to put on several items of safety and sanitation equipment and then walk to their work stations” before clocking in for the day, and were required to reverse the process after clocking out at the end of the day...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–Kirschbaum v. Reliant Energy: Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In ERISA Class Action Complaint Holding Class Action Claims
Posted on May 12, 2008Summary Judgment in Favor of Defense in ERISA Class Action Proper because Class Action Claims that Defendants should not have Invested in Company Stock ran Counter to Terms of Eligible Individual Account Plan (EIAP) and because Negligent Misrepresentations Alleged in Class Action Complaint were not made in Fiduciary Capacity Fifth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action against his employer, Reliant Energy, Inc...
No Surprise: Employment-Related Class Action Cases Top List Of Class Action Lawsuits Filed In California State And Federal Courts Over The Past Week
Posted on May 10, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
PAX Class Action Defense Cases—In re Michelin: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In District Of Maryland
Posted on May 09, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407and Transfers Actions to District of Maryland Four (4) class action lawsuits were filed in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and New York against various defendants, including Michelin North America and American Honda Motor relating to the PAX “run-flat” tire system manufactured by Michelin and installed in certain Hondas and Acuras sold in the United States...
WaMu Class Action Defense Cases—In re Washington Mutual: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Western District Of Washington
Posted on May 09, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Transfers Actions to Western District of Washington Seven (7) class action lawsuits (5 in Washington and 2 in New York) were filed against various defendants, including Washington Mutual, “arising from alleged misrepresentations or omissions concerning WaMu’s financial condition with respect to its subprime home loan portfolio...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Brooks v. GAF: South Carolina Federal Court Remand Class Action To State Court For Lack Of Requisite Amount In Controversy But Expressly Prohibits Plaintiffs From Recovering Damages In Excess Of Prayer
Posted on May 08, 2008As Master of Class Action Complaint Plaintiffs Successfully Limited Amount in Controversy so as to Preclude Removal Jurisdiction on Diversity Grounds or under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act) Necessitating Remand of Class Action to State Court, but South Carolina Federal Court Expressly Limits Plaintiffs’ Individual and Class Action Recovery to Limits Pleaded in Class Action Complaint Plaintiffs filed a putative class action lawsuit in South Carolina state court against GAF Materials “alleging claims for negligence, negligent representation, breach of warranty, breach of implied warranties, fraud, a violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act (‘SCUPTA’), and unjust enrichment...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases--Cornelia I. Crowell GST Trust v. Possis Medical: Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Securities Fraud Class Action Holding Allegations In Class Action Complaint Failed To Meet PSLRA's Heightened Pleading Requirements
Posted on May 07, 2008District Court Properly Dismissed Securities Fraud Class Action Without Leave to Amend because Class Action Complaint Failed to Satisfy Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Pleading Requirements Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Possis Medical and two individuals alleging securities fraud violations...
Class Action Defense Cases–Negrete v. Allianz Life: Ninth Circuit Reverses District Court Order Enjoining Class Action Defendant From Settling Class Actions Pending In Other State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 06, 2008All Writs Act did not Permit District Court to Issue Injunction Prohibiting Class Action Defendant from Negotiating Settlements of Class Actions Pending in Other Federal Courts, and Anti-Injunction Act Barred District Court from Issuing Injunction Prohibiting Class Action Defendant from Negotiating Settlements of Class Actions Pending in State Court Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a class action complaint against Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America alleging inter alia violations of RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of defendant’s sale of fixed deferred annuities which, the class action alleged, was “‘an unsuitable financial product’ because the maturity date exceeded his life expectancy and restricted his access to principal without surrender charges...
Punitive Damages Class Action Defense Issues–City of Hope v. Genentech: California Supreme Court Affirms $300 Million Compensatory Award For Breach Of Contract But Reverses $200 Million Punitive Damage Award For Breach Of Fiduciary Duty
Posted on May 05, 2008Punitive Damages for Breach of Fiduciary Duties Improper because Evidence Established Merely Contractual Relationship even though Plaintiff Entrusted Secret Scientific Discoveries to Defendant for Commercial Exploitation California Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff City of Hope filed suit (not a class action) against Genentech alleging breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties arising out of an agreement whereby “City of Hope, in return for royalties, entrusted a secret scientific discovery to Genentech to develop, to patent, and to commercially exploit...
New Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Again Outstrip Other Categories Of Class Action Filings In Weekly List Of New Class Action Cases Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on May 03, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, so that they may anticipate the types of class actions against which they will have to defend, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Wal-Mart Class Action Defense Cases–Sepulveda v. Wal-Mart: In Unpublished Opinion Ninth Circuit Reverses Denial Of Class Action Treatment In Labor Law Class Action Filed On Behalf Of Assistant Managers
Posted on May 01, 2008Fifth Circuit’s “Incidental Damages” Approach to Class Action Certification under Rule 23(b)(2) Inapplicable in Ninth Circuit and District Court Erred in Denying Class Action Treatment of Labor Law Class Action based on Conclusion that “Claims for Monetary Relief were Non-Incidental” Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Wal-Mart on behalf of assistant managers alleging labor law violations...
Class Action Defense Cases–Ross v. Bank of America: Second Circuit Reinstates Antitrust Class Action Holding Cardholders Possessed Article III Standing To Pursue Class Action Claims Against Credit Card Issuers
Posted on April 30, 2008District Court Erred in Dismissing Cardholder Class Action Against Credit Card Issuers, Alleging Conspiracy to Including Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in Credit Card Agreements in Violation of Federal Antitrust Laws, because Class Action Complaint Adequately Alleged Injury in Fact for Article III Standing Second Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against various credit card issuing banks for antitrust violations alleging that defendants “illegally colluded to force cardholders to accept mandatory arbitration clauses in their cardholder agreements...
Weyerhauser Loses Antitrust Class Action Lawsuit in Oregon As Jury Awards $28 Million
Posted on April 30, 2008Oregon Jury Awards $28 Million in Antitrust Class Action Against Weyerhauser On April 29, 2008, Weyerhauser lost a class action lawsuit filed in Oregon; the class action complaint reportedly alleged antitrust violations in that Weyerhauser allegedly monopolized the market for finished alder lumber...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases–Isner v. Falkenberg: California Court Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In Labor Law Class Action Holding Resident Employees Need Only Be Compensated For Carrying Out Assigned Duties
Posted on April 29, 2008Class Action Alleging Failure to Pay Resident Employees for Time Spent “On Call” though not Performing Assigned Tasks Properly Subject to Summary Judgment in Favor of Defense California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative labor law class action against their former employer, a property management company, alleging inter alia that it had failed to pay them for overtime and waiting time; specifically, the class action complaint alleged that defendant failed to pay its “resident employees” for “on-call” time...
Attorney-Client Privilege/Class Action Defense Cases–Costco v. Superior Court: California State Court Denies Writ Relief Of Court Order Requiring Defense To Produce In Labor Law Class Action Copy Of Redacted Letter Prepared By Outside Counsel
Posted on April 28, 2008Class Action Discovery Order Requiring Defense to Produce Redacted Letter Prepared by Outside Counsel did not Warrant Extraordinary Writ Relief because Unredacted Portions were “Inconsequential” and Disclosure to Class Action Plaintiffs would not cause Costco “Irreparable Harm” California Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative labor law class action against Costco alleging that it “misclassified certain managers as exempt employees...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Charter Communications: Eighth Circuit Holds As Matter Of First Impression That District Court Failure To Include In Judgment Findings Required By Rule 11(b) Does Not Require Remand
Posted on April 28, 2008Following Dismissal of Securities Fraud Class Action, District Court Failure to Include Rule 11(b) Statutory Findings in Judgment may be Decided by Court of Appeal Eighth Circuit Holds Plaintiff filed a putative securities fraud class action against various defendants, including Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola...
FACTA Class Action Defense Cases—In re OSI Restaurant: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In Eastern District Of Pennsylvania
Posted on April 27, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of FACTA Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, and Agrees with Defense Recommendation of Eastern District of Pennsylvania as the Transferee Court Four class action lawsuits were filed against OSI Restaurant Partners (OSI) alleging violations of the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) based on OSI’s failure to delete certain information from customer credit and debit card receipts...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue To Dominate List Of Weekly Class Action Cases Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 26, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Aurora Dairy: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Eastern District Of Missouri As Transferee Court
Posted on April 25, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff Request, over Defense Objection, for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Transfers Class Actions to Eastern District of Missouri Four class action lawsuits (2 in Colorado and 1 each in Florida and Missouri), each of which were filed as putative nationwide class actions, were filed against various Aurora Dairy Corp...
Class Action Defense Cases–Vandyne v. Allied Mortgage: Missouri Supreme Court Reverses Certification Of Class Action Because Membership In Class Action Required A Finding Of Liability And Because Class Definition Ambiguous
Posted on April 24, 2008Class Action Alleging Failure to Disclose “Loan-Related” Fees Improperly Certified as Class Action because Class Membership Turned on Finding of Defendant’s Liability and because Class Definition Failed to Adequately Describe “Loan-Related” Fees and Services, Requiring Reversal of Trial Court Order Missouri Supreme Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action in Missouri state court against Allied Mortgage Capital Corporation alleging violations of the state’s Merchandising Practices Act “by misrepresenting charges for third-party services in connection with their loan transaction...
Microsoft Vista Class Action Defense Cases-Kelley v. Microsoft: Ninth Circuit Denies Review Of Certification Of Nationwide Class Action Against Microsoft By Washington Federal Court In Class Action Challenging OEM Marketing Of Vista Operating System
Posted on April 24, 2008Microsoft Petition for Permission to Appeal Class Action Certification of Nationwide Class Action Challenging Labeling PCs as “Windows Vista Capable” even if PCs could not Run Premium Vista Properly Denied by Ninth Circuit We previously reported on the nationwide class action certified against Microsoft arising out of a class action complaint that challenges the marketing of new “Windows Vista Capable” and “Express Upgrade” programs...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Katrina Canal: Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial Of Motion To Remand Class Action To State Court Holding State Sovereignty Did Not Preclude Removal Of Class Action Under CAFA Because Citizens Were Class Members
Posted on April 23, 2008Class Action by State on Behalf of Itself and Citizens Properly Removed under Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) because State’s Sovereign Immunity not Applicable to Citizens Fifth Circuit Holds Louisiana’s Attorney General Louisiana filed a putative class action against more than 200 insurance companies on behalf of the State and numerous Louisiana citizens based on defendants’ alleged failure to pay for covered insurance claims arising out of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; the class action complaint alleged only state law claims, and sought compensatory, declaratory and injunctive relief...
CAFA Class Action Defense Cases–Lussier v. Dollar Tree: Ninth Circuit Upholds Denial Of Attorney Fees For Flawed Removal Of Class Action Under Class Action Fairness Act Because Basis For Removal Was Objectively Reasonable
Posted on April 22, 2008Following Remand of Labor Law Class Action to State Court on Grounds that Class Action had been “Commenced” Prior to Effective Date of Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA) thus Precluding Removal Jurisdiction under CAFA, District Court did not Abuse its Discretion in Refusing to Award Plaintiffs Attorney Fees because Defense Removed Class Action under a Novel Theory of First Impression Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Dollar Tree Stores alleging various labor law violations...
FLSA Class Action Defense Cases–In re Pilgrim’s Pride: Arkansas Federal Court Conditionally Certifies Class Action In MDL Labor Law Class Action Alleging Failure To Pay For Time Spent Donning And Doffing Protective Equipment
Posted on April 21, 2008FLSA Class Action Alleging Failure to Compensate Workers for Time Spent Donning, Doffing and Cleaning Safety and Sanitary Gear Involved Putative Class Action Representatives “Similarly Situated” to Members of Proposed Class Warranting Certification of FLSA Collective Action for Purposes of Notice Despite Differences in Employee Equipment Utilized, Time Incurred and Timekeeping Methods Arkansas Federal Court Holds Various class action lawsuits were filed against Pilgrim’s Pride for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) alleging failure to compensate employees for time spent donning and doffing safety and sanitary gear at chicken processing plants; the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the class actions in the Western District of Arkansas, and plaintiffs filed a consolidated motion for class action certification (technically, a “collective action” under the FLSA)...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re PepsiCo: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Unopposed Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In The Southern District Of New York
Posted on April 20, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Individual and Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, and Accepts Defense Recommendation that Lawsuits be Transferred to the Southern District of New York Four individual and class action lawsuits (two in New York, one in Tennessee and one in Texas) were filed against PepsiCo and Pepsi Bottling Group (Pepsi) arising “from allegations that Pepsi misled consumers of its Aquafina bottled water into believing that the water source of Aquafina was something different from and better than tap water...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Chiquita Brands: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Southern District Of Florida As Transferee Court
Posted on April 19, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Rejects Defense Recommendation that Class Actions be Transferred to District of Columbia Six class action lawsuits were filed against various defendants, including Chiquita Brands International and Chiquita Fresh North America (Chiquita), as well as current and former officers and directors of Chiquita Brands...
New Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Rise As Labor Law Class Action Filings Again Top List Of Weekly Class Action Cases Filed In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 19, 2008As a resource for California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Gadolinium: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Northern District Of Ohio
Posted on April 18, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of 24 Class Action and Individual Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Concludes that Northern District of Ohio, rather than Southern District of Ohio, was Appropriate Transferee Court Twenty-four class action lawsuits were filed in 13 different districts against various defendants, including General Electric, Bayer Healthcare, Tyco and Bracco Diagnostics, “arising out of the allegation that gadolinium based contrast dyes may cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with impaired renal function...
FCRA Class Action Defense Cases–Murray v. New Cingular: Seventh Circuit Limits Cole Opinion And Resolves Several Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Issues Of Importance To Class Action And Non-Class Action Cases Alike
Posted on April 17, 2008Three Class Action Lawsuits Involving Six Issues Under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Equally Important to Class Action and Non-Class Action Cases, Grouped Together for Resolution by Seventh Circuit The Seventh Circuit yesterday issued an opinion that resolved various issues of interest under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) presented by three lower court opinions – the putative class action styled Murray v...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Medtronic: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Joint Plaintiffs’ Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation And Selects District of Minnesota as Transferee Court
Posted on April 16, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiffs’ Request for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Decides on District of Minnesota as Transferee Court from among the Nine Districts Recommended by Various Parties Twenty-seven individual and class action lawsuits, followed by 60 related “tag-along” individual and class action filings, were brought against Medtronic and others arising out of allegations that the implantation of Sprint Fidelis leads in defibrillators caused injuries...
Coca-Cola Class Action Defense Cases–Coca-Cola v. Honorable W. Stephen Nixon: Missouri Supreme Court Reverses Order Granting Class Action Certification Holding That Definition Of Class Action Membership Was Overly Broad And Indefinite
Posted on April 16, 2008Class Action Complaint Alleging Failure to Disclose Type of Sweetener used in Diet Drink Improperly Granted Class Action Treatment because Definition of Class Included Millions of Uninjured Individuals and Class Definition could not be Permissibly Limited Missouri Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action lawsuit in Missouri state court against Coca-Cola alleging that it “made affirmative misrepresentations and omitted material information regarding the types of artificial sweeteners used in fountain Diet Coke” in violation of state law; Specifically, the class action alleged that Coca-Cola “misled consumers into believing that fountain Diet Coke is the same product as bottled Diet Coke,” when in point of fact the fountain Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame and saccharin while bottled Diet Coke is sweetened only with aspartame...
PSLRA Class Action Defense Cases–Grillo v. Tempur-Pedic: Kentucky Federal Court Dismisses Securities Class Action Complaint With Prejudice Finding Class Action Allegations Failed To Plead Scienter With Specificity Required Under PSLRA
Posted on April 15, 2008Class Action Alleging Securities Violations Failed to Plead “Strong Inference of Scienter” as Required by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) Warranting Dismissal of Class Action With Prejudice Kentucky Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Tempur-Pedic and others alleging securities laws violations arising out of allegedly false and misleading statements regarding the company’s financial situation as part of a scheme to drive up the stock price thereby allowing insiders “to sell more than $246 million worth of stock at an inflated price...
Wells Fargo UCL Class Action Defense Cases–Puentes v. Wells Fargo: California Court Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Wells Fargo In UCL Class Action Holding Charging Monthly (Rather Than Daily) Interest On Loans Was Not Unlawful
Posted on April 14, 2008Trial Court Properly Granted Defense Summary Judgment Motion in Class Action Alleging Bank Violated California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) by Calculating Interest on a Monthly rather than Daily Basis because Federal Law Permits this Method, it is Consistent with Industry Conduct and it is Required for Sale of Loans on the Secondary Market California Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against their mortgage lender, Wells Fargo, alleging violations of California’s unfair competition law (UCL) based on the fact that it failed to charge monthly interest based on the number of days in the month, and failed to disclose that it treated each month as one-twelfth of the year, regardless of the number of days in the month...
Labor Law Class Action Filings Drop But Maintain Grip On Top Spot Of Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 12, 2008To assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases—In re Saturn: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Plaintiff Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation In The District of Nebraska
Posted on April 11, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Plaintiff’s Unopposed Request for Pretrial Coordination of 3 Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 and Transfers Class Actions to the District of Nebraska Three class action lawsuits (2 in Illinois and 1 in Nebraska) were filed against General Motors and Saturn Corp...
Class Action Defense Discovery Cases-Montoya v. S.C.C.P. Painting: Maryland Federal Court Holds Employer Bank Records Relevant But Discovery Concerning Immigration Status Irrelevant To Class Action Certification Issues
Posted on April 10, 2008Labor Law Class Action Plaintiffs Entitled to Redacted Bank Records of Putative Class Members because Defendant Lacked other Business Records Relevant to Class Action Numerosity and Commonality Requirements, and Class Action Defense Attorneys Entitled to Information Regarding Specific Terms of Plaintiffs’ Employment Agreements because Relevant to Typicality and Commonality but not Entitled to Information Concerning Immigration Status, Maryland Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a labor law class action against S...
Class Action Defense Cases-CashCall v. Superior Court: California State Court Affirms Trial Court Order Permitting Class Action Plaintiff Who Was Never Member Of Putative Class To Obtain Precertification Discovery Of Actual Class Member Identities
Posted on April 09, 2008As Matter of First Impression, Request in Class Action for Precertification Discovery by Plaintiffs who Learns They were Never Members of Putative Class is not Automatically Prohibited and Trial Court did not Err in Permitting such Discovery where Wrong Alleged Involved Surreptitious Recording of Telephone Calls so Class Members would not Know Their Privacy Rights had been Violated California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed class action against their lender, CashCall, alleging that it secretly and illegally monitored its collection calls in violation of the borrowers’ privacy rights; they subsequently filed an amended class action complaint alleging further that defendant “surreptitiously monitored or eavesdropped on their conversations through a machine or other manner” in violation of California law...
Class Action Defense Cases-Holmgren v. County of Los Angeles: California State Court Affirms Judgment Adverse To Class Action Plaintiffs Holding Engineers Of Firms Under Contract With County Were Not Common Law Employees Of County
Posted on April 08, 2008Trial Court Properly Entered Judgment for Defense in Class Action by Engineers, Employed by Firms Working under Contract for County, because Engineers were not “Common Law Employees” of County California State Court Holds Plaintiff-engineers filed a putative class action against the County of Los Angeles alleging that they had been designated improperly as employees of the independent contractors hired to perform work for the County, rather than as employees of the County itself...
HP Class Action Defense Cases–Indiana Electrical Workers v. Dunn: California Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Challenging $21.4 Million Severance Package Hewlett-Packard Paid Former CEO Fiorina
Posted on April 07, 2008Class Action Derivative Claims Challenging Severance Package Paid by HP to Former CEO Dismissed for Failure to Make Requisite Demand on Board and Failure to Establish Futility California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action against Hewlett-Packard, its former chief executive officer, Carleton Fiorina, and various other individual defendants challenging the severance package HP paid Fiorina...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases–Adams v. IBM: New York Federal Court Grants Defense Motion To Dismiss ERISA Class Action Finding Res Judicata Barred Class Action Against Plan And Plan Administrator
Posted on April 06, 2008ERISA Class Action Barred by Plaintiff’s Prior Lawsuit Against IBM thus Supporting Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action New York Federal Court Holds Plaintiff filed a putative class action in New York against his former employer’s pension plan and its administrator alleging violations of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) by failing to pay him plan benefits...
Employment-Related Class Action Lawsuits Command Top Spot On List Of Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on April 05, 2008As a resource to California class action defense attorneys, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Copycat Class Action Filed Against Starbucks In New York Following $100+ Million Class Action Judgment In California
Posted on April 05, 2008Second Circuit Rules District Court Erred in Certifying Class Action because Individual Proof of Reliance on Tobacco Companies? Marketing of ?Light? Cigarettes would be Required Steven Greenhouse of The New York Times reports today that a copycat lawsuit has been filed in New York federal court against Starbucks seeking damages arising out of the company policy of sharing store tips with shift supervisors...
Cigarette Class Action Defense Cases–McLaughlin v. Philip Morris: Second Circuit Reverses Certification Of Class Action Alleging Deceptive Advertising Of "Light" Cigarettes Holding Individual Questions of Reliance Predominate
Posted on April 04, 2008Class Action Alleging Fraud Under RICO in Advertising of Light Cigarettes Fails to Satisfy Prerequisites for Class Action Certification Under Rule 23 because Individual Issues Predominate Second Circuit Holds Judge Jack Weinstein of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York certified a class action against Philip Morris USA, R...
Second Circuit Reverses District Court Certification Of Class Action Against Tobacco Companies In ?Light Cigarette? Class Action Case
Posted on April 04, 2008The Los Angeles Times reports today on the Second Circuit opinion reversing class action certification of a fraud under RICO class action against various tobacco companies. (Our initial news on this opinion may be found here, and our summary of the Circuit Court opinion may be found here...
Second Circuit Court of Appeals Reverses District Court Order Certifying Class Action Against Tobacco Companies In ?Light? Cigarettes Case Holding that Individual Proof of Reliance on Defendants? Marketing Precluded Class Action Treatment
Posted on April 04, 2008Chad Bray and Anjali Cordeiro of The Wall Street Journal report today on the Second Circuit ruling that reverses class action certification in a tobacco lights case. (Our news report may be found here, and our summary of the Second Circuit opinion may be found here...
District Court Erred In Certifying Class Action Against Tobacco Companies In ?Light? Cigarettes Case Second Circuit Holds
Posted on April 04, 2008Second Circuit Rules District Court Erred in Certifying Class Action because Individual Proof of Reliance on Tobacco Companies? Marketing of ?Light? Cigarettes would be Required Stephanie Saul of The New York Times reports today on a ?victory for the tobacco industry? ? the Second Circuit opinion reversing class action certification of ?an $800 billion class-action lawsuit on behalf of smokers who said they had been misled that light cigarettes were safer than regular ones...
FedEx Class Action Defense Cases–In re FedEx Ground: Indiana Federal Court Grants Class Action Treatment In 19 Labor Law Class Action Cases Alleging Misclassification Of Pickup/Delivery Drivers But Denies Certification In 9 Other Class Actions
Posted on April 03, 2008In Considering Class Action Certification in 28 Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Centralized by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, 19 Cases Satisfied Class Action Prerequisites but 9 other Putative Class Actions would Require Individualized Inquiries Sufficient to Defeat Class Action Treatment Indiana Federal Court Holds Numerous class action lawsuits were filed against FedEx Ground alleging that the company misclassified its pickup and delivery drivers as independent contractors rather than employees; the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated the class actions in the Northern District of Indiana, and the plaintiffs in the class action cases characterized as “Wave 1,” “Wave 2” and “Wave 3” moved the district court for class action certification...
Breaking News--Second Circuit Reverses Class Action Certification Against Philip Morris In "Light Cigarettes" Class Action Case
Posted on April 03, 2008We have previously reported on the 540-page district court opinion certifying a class action against Philip Morris USA alleging fraud under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) arising out of the advertising and sale of "light cigarettes...
Class Action Defense Cases-Pfeiffer v. Himax: California Federal Court Denies Defense Motion To Transfer Securities Fraud Class Action To New York
Posted on April 02, 2008Defendant in Securities Fraud Class Action Failed to Establish Grounds to Transfer Class Action to New York, Particularly in Light of Defendant’s Waiver in Deposit Agreement to Right to Challenge Venue California Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action in California federal court against Himax Technologies alleging securities fraud in connection with the initial public offering of Himax stock; a related class action, entitled Oh v...
Class Action Defense Cases–Allen v. Holiday Universal: Pennsylvania Federal Court Certifies Class Action Against Health Clubs Alleging Excessive Membership Fees In Violation Of State Law But Denies Class Action Treatment Of Unjust Enrichment Claim
Posted on April 01, 2008Class Action Treatment Warranted for Class Action Claims Against Health Clubs based on Violations of State Law but not as to Class Action Complaint’s Unjust Enrichment Claim Pennsylvania Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Pennsylvania state court against three health clubs (Holiday Universal, Scandinavian Health Spa and Bally Total Fitness) alleging violations of Pennsylvania’s Health Club Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL); defense attorneys removed the class action to federal court...
Countrywide Class Action Defense Cases--In re Countrywide: California Federal Court Stays Class Action Claims Against Countrywide And Denies Plaintiffs' Motion For Constructive Trust/Preliminary Injunction And Plaintiffs' Request For Expedited Discovery
Posted on March 31, 2008Securities Class Action Claims Pending in California Paralleled Class Action Claims in Delaware and Colorado River Factors Supported Stay of California Class Action California Federal Court Holds Several class action lawsuits were filed against Countrywide Financial Corp...
No Surprise -- Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Again Hold On To Top Spot In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 29, 2008As a resource to defense attorneys who defend class actions in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories of new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
ADEA Class Action Defense Cases-Peterson v. Seagate: Minnesota Federal Court Denies Motion To Certify Interlocutory Appeal Of Order Denying Defense Motion To Dismiss Class Action Claims In Age Discrimination Class Action
Posted on March 27, 2008Order Denying Motion to Dismiss ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act) Class Action Claims did not Warrant Interlocutory Appeal Minnesota Federal Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against their employer, Seagate, alleging age discrimination in violation of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)...
Labor Law Class Action Defense Cases-Schachter v. Citigroup: California State Court Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In Labor Law Class Action Challenging Forfeiture Provisions Of Voluntary Employee Incentive Compensation Plan
Posted on March 26, 2008Defense Motion for Summary Judgment in Labor Law Class Action Properly Granted because Employee Incentive Compensation Plan did not Violate California law by Providing for Forfeiture of Stock for Following Resignation or Termination for Cause During Plan’s Two-Year Vesting Period California State Court Holds Plaintiffs filed a putative class action against their employer, Citigroup, alleging violations of California’s Labor Code; specifically, the class action alleged that the financial brokerage company’s voluntary incentive compensation plan - which “allows participants the option of using a portion of their annual earnings to purchase shares in the company's stock at a price below the stock's publicly-traded market price” but provides further that “[i]f the participating employee resigns or is terminated for cause within a two-year vesting period, the employee forfeits the stock as well as the money used to purchase it” - violates California law because the money used to purchase the shares were wages and their forfeiture constituted a conversion of wages...
Class Action Defense Cases-Farm Raised Salmon Cases: California Supreme Court Holds Class Action Concerning Artificially Colored Salmon Not Preempted By Federal Law And Reverses Dismissal Of Class Action
Posted on March 25, 2008Trial Court Erred in Holding that Class Action Under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) Alleging Failure to Disclose Artificial Coloring of Farm Raised Salmon was Preempted by Federal Law because Congress Allows “Identical” State Laws and did not Preclude Private Rights of Action to Enforce such State Laws California Supreme Court Holds Class action lawsuits were filed against various grocery stores alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) by “[selling] artificially colored farmed salmon without disclosing to consumers the use of color additives”; ultimately, the separate class actions were coordinated and in March 2004 a coordinated class action complaint was filed...
Countrywide RESPA Class Action Defense Cases-Krupa v. Landsafe: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment In Favor Of Defense In RESPA Class Action Holding No Kickback Or Markup Violations Occurred
Posted on March 24, 2008Defense Judgment in Class Action for Kickback and Markup Violations of RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) Proper because Increased Credit Report Fee Requested by Lender was Passed through to Borrowers and no Additional Business was Given in Exchange for New Pricing Policy Requested by Lender Eleventh Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Countrywide Home Loans and Landsafe Credit (each subsidiaries of Countrywide Financial) alleging violations of the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA); the class action complaint alleged that Countrywide obtained virtually all of its credit reports from Landsafe, that prior to August 2002 Landsafe charged Countrywide $25 per credit report, and that Countrywide passed this fee on to borrowers who “locked in” or obtained a loan from Countrywide, but absorbed the fee if the loan did not go through...
Sears Class Action Defense Cases-Berbig v. Sears: Illinois State Court Holds Trial Court Erred In Denying Motion To Dismiss Products Liability Class Action On Grounds Of Forum Non Conveniens
Posted on March 23, 2008Products Liability Class Action should have been Filed in Minnesota, not Illinois, and Trial Court Abused its Discretion in Denying Defense Motion to Dismiss Class Action on Grounds of Forum Non Conveniens Illinois State Court Holds Plaintiff filed a products liability class action in Illinois state court against Sears Roebuck after he sustained injuries while using a Craftsman GT 5000 Riding Lawnmower...
Labor Law Class Action Lawsuits Continue Dominance In Weekly Class Action Filings In California State And Federal Courts
Posted on March 22, 2008In order to assist class action defense attorneys anticipate the types of cases against which they will have to defend in California, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas...
Class Action Defense Cases-In re Southeastern Milk: Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Grants Defense Motion To Centralize Class Action Litigation But Selects Eastern District of Tennessee As Transferee Court
Posted on March 21, 2008Judicial Panel Grants Defense Request, Opposed by Plaintiffs, for Pretrial Coordination of 4 Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, but Transfers Actions to Eastern District of Tennessee Four class action lawsuits, 2 in the Middle District of Tennessee and 2 in the Eastern District of Tennessee, were filed against various defendants alleging antitrust violations for failing to “compete for the purchase of raw Grade A milk produced, marketed and processed in the Southeast United States...
Starbucks Hit With $105 Million Judgment In Labor Law Class Action Brought By Baristas Alleging Improper Sharing Of Tips With Shift Supervisors
Posted on March 21, 2008Andrea Chang of the Los Angeles Times reports today that a California state court in San Diego has ordered Starbucks to pay more than $100 in a class action brought by baristas. The class action ? filed in 2004 ? alleged ?that shift supervisors, who also make coffee and serve customers, were illegally getting a cut of employee tips,? Ms...
Labor Law Class Action Against Starbucks, Alleging Improper Sharing Of Baristas Tips With Supervisors, Results In $105 Million Judgment And Injunctive Relief In Favor Of Members Of Class Action Suit
Posted on March 21, 2008Vikas Bajaj of the New York Times reports today on the $105 million class action ruling by a California state court against Starbucks. The class action alleged, and the San Diego Superior Court agreed, that Starbucks improperly had permitted shift supervisors to share in tips left by customers for baristas...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases-In re Federal National Mortgage: District Of Columbia Federal Court Grants Motion To Certify Securities Class Action Against Fannie Mae and KPMG But Grants Defense Request To Limit Class Period
Posted on March 20, 2008Federal Securities Class Action Satisfied Rule 23 Requirements for Class Action Treatment but Duration of Class Period must be Limited as Requested by Defense District of Columbia Federal Court Holds Several federal securities class action lawsuits were filed against various defendants Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and its former accountant KPMG, as well as various officers and directors of Fannie Mae alleging that they “intentionally manipulated earnings and violated Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (‘GAAP’), causing losses to investors...
E*Trade TILA Class Action Defense Cases-Silvas v. E*Trade: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of UCL Class Action Premised On TILA Violations For Failure To Refund Loan Lock-In Fees Holding Federal Law Preempted Class Action Claims
Posted on March 19, 2008Class Action Alleging Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and False Advertising Preempted by Federal Law because Class Action Claims were Premised on Alleged Violations of Truth in Lending Act (TILA) for Conduct Governed by HOLA (Home Owners’ Loan Act) and Implementing OTS Regulations Ninth Circuit Holds Plaintiffs filed a class action in California state court against E*Trade Mortgage alleging violations of the state’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL); the gravamen of the class action complaint was that E*Trade failed to refund loan rate lock-in fees following the exercise of a right of rescission under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA)...
ERISA Class Action Defense Cases-Robinson v. Sheet Metal Workers’: Second Circuit Affirms District Court Judgment In ERISA Class Action In Favor Of Defense Holding Trustees Did Not Violate Anti-Cutback Rule Or Breach Contract
Posted on March 18, 2008ERISA Class Action Failed to Establish Violation of Anti-Cutback Rule or Breach of Contract or Fiduciary Duties because Industry-Related Disability Pension was a Welfare Benefit Plan and an Ancillary Benefit Second Circuit Holds Plaintiffs, as recipients of an Industry-Rel