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Class Action
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July 17, 2024
Families Push To Revive Suits Over Harvard Body Part Thefts
Plaintiffs in a dozen lawsuits seeking to hold Harvard University liable after a former medical school morgue manager was charged with stealing and selling body parts have told a Massachusetts Appeals Court that a lower court judge got it wrong when he found that the school has legal immunity.
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July 17, 2024
Judge Cautiously OKs $1.5M Georgetown Tuition Refund Deal
A $1.5 million settlement resolving class action claims over Georgetown University's move to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic scored initial approval, but a D.C. federal judge said he has concerns about the limited payout class members will receive after accounting for attorney fees.
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July 17, 2024
Robinhood's $9M Promo Text Suit Settlement Gets Final Nod
A Washington federal judge has awarded $2.2 million in attorney fees and granted final approval to a $9 million settlement resolving claims that stock-trading app Robinhood's referral program caused nonusers to receive unsolicited promotional texts, in violation of Evergreen State law.
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July 17, 2024
Fiat Chrysler, Workers To Mediate OT Dispute
A Michigan federal judge agreed to hit pause on a proposed class and collective action accusing Fiat Chrysler of failing to fully pay workers overtime while the parties engage in mediation.
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July 17, 2024
ADA Can't Shield Worker From Failed Drug Test, Co. Says
A chemical transportation company urged a South Carolina federal court to toss a former lift operator's lawsuit alleging he was fired for taking legal CBD because of cysts on his brain and spinal cord, arguing disability law doesn't protect workers from positive drug tests for THC.
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July 16, 2024
Gilead Asks Calif. Supreme Court To Ax 'Disastrous' Decision
Gilead Sciences on Monday urged the California Supreme Court to overturn an appellate panel's decision that the company can't ditch claims it held back a safer HIV drug to maximize profits on an older medication, saying that holding manufacturers liable for non-defective products would "yield disastrous policy consequences."
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July 16, 2024
EB-5 Investors Seek Sanctions Over 'Flight Risk' Defendant Info
Two dozen Chinese investors who alleged that $13.2 million worth of their investments in a Hawaii resort went missing has urged an Illinois federal judge to sanction developers for not giving them important case information, including contact information for one defendant who they said is an "obvious flight risk."
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July 16, 2024
Apple's Slowed IPhone Derivative Deal OK'd After Tweaks
A California federal judge said Tuesday she would approve Apple's non-monetary settlement to resolve a derivative-shareholder suit over claims it secretly slowed iPhones and award counsel $6 million in attorney fees and expenses, after she rejected an earlier version of the deal because of the proposal's overbroad release of claims.
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July 16, 2024
Tesla Swaps Cravath Out, WilmerHale In For Antitrust Defense
WilmerHale has taken over from Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP as counsel for Tesla in a proposed class action in California federal court alleging the company runs an unlawful monopoly on parts for its electric vehicles.
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July 16, 2024
Rocket Cos. Investors Drop CEO Retweet Claims From Suit
Investors in mortgage lender Rocket Companies have dropped certain proposed class action claims against the company's CEO, telling a Michigan federal judge that they would no longer accuse the executive of securities fraud over a March 2021 retweet.
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July 16, 2024
Apollo's $1.85B Mining Co. Deal Sparks Del. Suit For Docs
An investor sued a mining and logistics company in Delaware's Court of Chancery seeking documents regarding the firm's $1.85 billion go-private deal with affiliates of asset management giant Apollo, approved Tuesday by the mineral producer's stockholders, asserting that there are credible concerns over pre-transaction communications between its executives and Apollo about their jobs.
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July 16, 2024
Unilever Supplier Looks To Drag BP Into Shampoo Class Suit
A Unilever supplier is trying to shift the blame in a lawsuit accusing it and the consumer goods behemoth of selling carcinogen-tainted dry shampoo, telling a Connecticut federal court that two of its suppliers, including BP, are actually the ones who should be held liable.
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July 16, 2024
Solar Co. Cites Macquarie In Fight Against Investor Suit
SolarEdge Technologies Inc. has moved to dismiss a proposed class action accusing it of misrepresenting the demand for its solar energy products in Europe, arguing that investors' claims that it had to make a detailed accounting of its inventory levels and sales practices do not meet the standard set out by the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Macquarie ruling.
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July 16, 2024
Drugmaker BioLineRx Beats Investor Suit Over Cash Shortfall
Israeli biotech company BioLineRx has, for now, beaten a proposed class action over claims that it misled investors on its capital shortfall, which caused a major decline in its share price, with a New Jersey federal judge saying the plaintiffs have failed to plead any actionable misleading or false statements.
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July 16, 2024
3rd Circ. Backs Tossing Over 1K Suits In Merck Vaccine MDL
The Third Circuit on Tuesday affirmed the dismissal with prejudice of 1,189 cases in multidistrict litigation alleging Merck & Co. Inc.'s shingles vaccine, Zostavax, caused the disease, saying the district court did not abuse its discretion by requiring medical tests to support the claims.
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July 16, 2024
JB Hunt To Pay $4.2M To End Wash. Pay Range Suit
J.B. Hunt Transport will fork over $4.2 million to a class of 2,200 job applicants to settle a lawsuit accusing the freight company of failing to include salary ranges in job postings and violating Washington state law, according to a court order tentatively approving the deal.
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July 16, 2024
5th Circ. Preserves Class Cert. In Fringe Benefits Fee Fight
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to certify a mega class of more than 290,000 workers in a suit against several benefits administration companies alleging mismanagement of their non-union fringe benefits, but found the action should proceed as opt-out and not mandatory class action.
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July 16, 2024
Chancery OKs $42.5M Brookfield-GGP Settlement, $11.4M Fee
Shareholders of mall operator GGP Inc. who sued in 2018 to stop its $9.25 billion acquisition by Brookfield Property Partners LP got the Chancery Court's nod Tuesday to settle the litigation for $42.5 million, including an $11.4 million fee for the plaintiffs' counsel and incentive awards for three shareholder plaintiffs.
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July 16, 2024
NCAA On Clock To Fight Injunction Bid In Prize Money Suit
A North Carolina federal judge on Tuesday gave the NCAA more time to respond to a class of athletes challenging rules that bar them from earning outside prize money, after hearing from the athletes that impending events, like the 2024 Summer Olympics, demand quick action in the case.
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July 16, 2024
Delta's $16M Pay Stub Deal Scores Initial OK
A California federal judge signed off on a $16 million deal Tuesday settling a suit accusing Delta Air Lines of wage statement violations under the California Labor Code and Private Attorneys General Act, finding the deal fair and reasonable.
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July 16, 2024
Union Fund Trustees Say Elevance Usurped Fiduciary Power
The trustees of two union health plans said Elevance Health Inc. and its subsidiaries violated federal benefits law when they overpaid themselves for administrative services and medical providers for patient care, arguing the insurer had significant control over the management of the plans and their assets.
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July 16, 2024
GNC Fights Claim 'Super Magnesium' Pills Are Subpar
GNC Holdings urged an Illinois federal judge Monday to toss a proposed class action alleging it falsely touted "Super Magnesium" supplements as having 400 milligrams of magnesium despite having less than half that amount, saying a consumer lacked standing to sue by failing to allege his own purchase was deficient.
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July 16, 2024
Florida's 'Mother Teresa' Pleads Guilty To $190M Ponzi Scheme
Johanna Garcia, the former MJ Capital CEO known as "Mother Teresa" in Florida, pled guilty Tuesday to one count in the indictment accusing her of running a $190 million investment Ponzi scheme through the company.
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July 16, 2024
Google Maps Antitrust Suit Deleted For Good
A California federal judge permanently dismissed a proposed class action targeting Google's Maps product, rejecting arguments that the company's terms of service barred third parties from using rival route guidance or places-of-interest tools with a Google-furnished map.
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July 16, 2024
Whataburger Wants Out Of Worker's 401(k) Fund Suit
Whataburger urged a Texas federal judge to throw out a former employee's proposed class action accusing it of stocking its employees' $215 million retirement plan with poorly performing funds, saying the worker waived his right to sue when he signed a severance agreement.
Expert Analysis
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Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: April Lessons
In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses three notable circuit court decisions on topics from the Class Action Fairness Act to consumer fraud — and provides key takeaways for counsel on issues including CAFA’s local controversy exception and Article III standing to seek injunctive relief.
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'Beauty From Within' Trend Poses Regulatory Risks For Cos.
Companies capitalizing on the current trend in oral supplements touting cosmetic benefits must note that a product claim that would be acceptable for an externally applied cosmetic may draw much stronger scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when applied to a supplement, say Natalie Rainer and Katherine Staba at K&L Gates.
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9th Circ. Arbitration Ruling Could Have Int'l Implications
In Patrick v. Running Warehouse, the Ninth Circuit's recent matter-of-fact invocation of an unusual California rule in a domestic arbitration context raises choice of law questions, and could make California law a strategic option for some international arbitration parties, says Jerry Roth at FedArb.
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Chancery's Carvana Suit Toss Shows Special Committee Value
The Delaware Chancery Court’s recent dismissal of a stockholder complaint against Carvana illustrates how special litigation committees can be a powerful tool for boards to regain control after litigation alleging a breach of fiduciary duty, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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Series
Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.
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7th Circ. Mootness Fee Case May Curb Frivolous Merger Suits
On April 15, the Seventh Circuit in Jorge Alcarez v. Akorn Inc. mapped out a framework for courts to consider mootness fees paid to individual shareholders after the voluntary dismissal of a challenge to a public company merger, which could encourage objections to mootness fees and reduce the number of frivolous merger challenges filed, say attorneys at Skadden.
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4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
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9th Circ. Ruling Puts Teeth Into Mental Health Parity Claims
In its recent finding that UnitedHealth applied an excessively strict review process for substance use disorder treatment claims, the Ninth Circuit provided guidance on how to plead a Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act violation and took a step toward achieving mental health parity in healthcare, says Mark DeBofsky at DeBofsky Law.
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Using Rule 23(f) To Review Class Certification Orders
Since plaintiffs on average are prevailing in certifying a class more often than not, the best-positioned class action defendants are those prepared to pursue relief under Rule 23(f) well before the district court issues its certification decision, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
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The Practical Effects Of Justices' Arbitration Exemption Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries, that a transportation worker need not work in the transportation industry to be exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act, may negatively affect employers' efforts to mitigate class action risk via arbitration agreement enforcement, say Charles Schoenwetter and Eric Olson at Bowman and Brooke.
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Binance Ruling Spotlights Muddled Post-Morrison Landscape
The Second Circuit's recent decision in Williams v. Binance highlights the judiciary's struggle to apply the U.S. Supreme Court's Morrison v. National Australia Bank ruling to digital assets, and illustrates how Morrison's territorial limits on the federal securities laws have become convoluted, say Andrew Rhys Davies and Jessica Lewis at WilmerHale.
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Del. Match.com Ruling Maintains Precedent In Time Of Change
Despite speculation that the Delaware Supreme Court could drive away corporations if it lowered the bar for business judgment review in its Match.com stockholder ruling, the court broke its recent run of controversial precedent-busting decisions by upholding, and arguably strengthening, minority stockholder protections against controller coercion, say Renee Zaytsev and Marc Ayala at Boies Schiller.
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The Future Of BIPA Insurance Litigation After Visual Pak
A recent Illinois appellate court decision, National Fire Insurance v. Visual Pak, may have altered the future of insurance litigation under the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act by diametrically opposing a prominent Seventh Circuit ruling that found insurance coverage for violations of the act, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.
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Macquarie Ruling Raises The Bar For Securities Fraud Claims
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week in Macquarie Infrastructure v. Moab Partners — holding that a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule does not forbid omissions in company disclosures unless they render other statements false — is a major setback for plaintiffs pursuing securities fraud claims against corporations, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Series
Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.