Ethics Experts Question Bank of America’s Request for Legal Fee Credit
Bank of America’s new plan to seek reductions in its legal fees from certain outside law firms have some experts questioning the ethics of this unusual practice. The bank is seeking a credit on its...
View ArticleBe Careful What You Wish For: Interesting Article On Efforts To “Punish”...
Terry Baynes of Thomson Reuters has an interesting article on efforts by a few plaintiffs’ attorneys to “crowd source” consumer arbitration claims. The effort arises out of the Supreme Court’s...
View ArticleON YOUR MARK…., GET SET…., SHOP!
With the start of the holiday shopping rush just a week away, retailers should be mindful of their responsibility to keep customers safe when large crowds gather to take advantage of well-advertised...
View Article“How much is not enough? Blog asks whether class action litigation will...
Law.com’s Legal Blog Watch recently noted a viral Facebook photo involving a “footlong” sandwich that appeared to be less than 12 inches long:...
View ArticleDistrict Court Denies Insurer Access to Insured’s Defense File
A Pennsylvania district court in CAMICO Mutual Insurance Co. v. Heffler, Radetich & Saitta, LLP (E.D. Pa. Jan. 28, 2013), refused to allow an insurer access to its insured’s defense file, holding...
View ArticleCruise-line mishaps and the Difficulty Pursuing Claims
The recent experience of the passengers the Carnival Triumph debacle once again raises the question of remedies sought and available for cruise passengers who suffer harms while at sea. As with the...
View ArticleKoch Rattles Wine Auction World: GBL § 350 "Game Changer"
To successfully assert a claim under New York General Business Law § 349 (h) or § 350, "a plaintiff must allege that a defendant has engaged in (1) consumer-oriented conduct that is (2) materially...
View ArticleFormer Federal Prosecutor to Open Yet Another Litigation Financing Firm
The growing industry of litigation funding will be expanding further very soon. Reuters reported last week that well known former federal prosecutor Andrew Stolper of Santa Ana, California, will open...
View ArticleSupreme Court Decision in Comcast v. Behrend Aligns With DRI Amicus Brief
Class Action Deemed to Be Improperly Certified by Lower CourtsCHICAGO – (March 27, 2013) The Supreme Court this morning reversed the judgment of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of...
View ArticleAn Important Class Action Defense Victory in the "Food Court"
A current trend in consumer class action litigation across the country focuses on food and beverage labeling. Plaintiffs will allege that products labeled as “all natural,” being a good source of a...
View ArticleDukes Plaintiffs: When at First You Don't Succeed . . . .
As was reported yesterday the plaintiffs in the 2011 landmark class action case Dukes v. Wal-Mart haven't given up and are now attempting to pursue regional class cases in federal courts in California,...
View ArticleU.S. Court of Appeals Rules Employer Arbitration Agreements Can Limit Class...
On August 21st, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Richards v. Ernst and Young held that an employer’s arbitration agreement could be enforced, despite any limitation on joint or class...
View ArticleTarget Security Breach Exposes Company to Class Action Litigation
This past holiday season, Target Corporation was victimized by one of the largest retail data breaches in the United States. On December 19, 2013, Target confirmed reports that hackers stole payment...
View ArticleLosing Preemption in a Labeling Class Action but Thinking About Winning Down...
A recent federal court decision rejected a preemption argument under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act regarding Smart Balance “fat-free” milks. Admittedly,...
View ArticleDefeating Class Certification in Food Labeling Class Actions
In postings in September 2013 and February 2014, I discussed tactics for opposing class certification in food labeling class actions. These tactics included relying on the Supreme Court’s opinion in...
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