EXPLORE
Overview
Class action and complex litigation cases are a far cry from traditional lawsuits. These more challenging, multi-party (and sometimes multi-jurisdictional) disputes require representation from highly specialized litigators, like those in M&R’s Class Action & Complex Litigation Practice Group.
There’s no substitute for three things our class action and complex litigation lawyers bring to the table: vast courtroom experience, a long record of success defending high-exposure cases, and in-depth subject matter knowledge that stems from the firm’s industry-focused approach to law. This, coupled with uncompromising preparation and defense strategies that’re equal parts hard-hitting and innovative, explain M&R’s exceptional national reputation in class action and multi-district cases.
Protecting our clients’ business interests and achieving their short- and long-term goals—whether that means an early resolution at the pleading stage, a jury verdict or an outcome in between—drives our representation. That being said, the firm’s class action and complex litigators are renowned for their collective ability to secure early claims dismissals, defeat class certification and significantly reduce client exposure by negotiating favorable settlements. And when the prompt resolution of a lawsuit is elusive or otherwise impossible, we navigate the trial and, when necessary, appeals process skillfully and, most often, successfully. To wit, over the past decade, we’ve been on the right side of scores of class action cases with billions of dollars and entire businesses at stake.
Areas of Expertise
Advertising & Marketing Cases
Consumer Finance & Lending Practices Disputes
Consumer Protection & Products Liability Lawsuits
Data Breaches & Privacy Matters
Insurance-Related Litigation
Labor & Employment Claims (including wage & hour & PAGA cases)
Securities-Related Proceedings
Representative Matters
Conducted an internal audit on behalf of our client, a California-based nutritional supplement company, that led to an extraordinarily favorable settlement of a false advertising class action filed against it alleging that the results of the company’s supplements were not as advertised in print or on television.
Represented a leading automobile manufacturer in a multi-party consumer action. Successfully obtained a denial of class certification and then dismissal of the remaining claims by way of summary judgment.
Successfully defended a leading credit card processor in two “bet-the-company” class actions alleging usury and violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). Obtained dismissal of the class action usury class claims at the pleading stage by demonstrating the enforceability of a class action waiver. Then, the trial court issued an order striking the remaining class action allegations, which transformed a multi-million-dollar action into an $18,000 case—a ruling that was affirmed on appeal.
Prosecuted a copyright infringement action on behalf of a popular game manufacturer against a counterfeiting ring comprised of local and China-based corporate and individual defendants that sold knock-off products here and abroad. Secured a stipulated judgment against all defendants that required payment of the maximum statutory damages allowable under the law for willful copyright infringement. Also obtained a permanent injunction against the future sale of counterfeit products.
Successfully defended a Fortune 100 company in a national origin and gender discrimination class action that alleged discrimination against minorities and women with respect to all aspects of their employment, including recruiting, testing, hiring, promotions and compensation.
Represented an insurance company in a putative class action alleging unfair competition arising from our client purportedly withholding payment of overhead and profit on actual cash value claims until such time as overhead and profit was actually incurred. At mediation, successfully negotiated plaintiffs’ eight-figure prayer for damages to a settlement that was pennies on the dollar.
Represented insurance companies in an action brought by over 70,000 class members alleging that the fee charged by a rental car agency for optional coverage provided by our clients violated various provisions of the California Insurance Code and was otherwise subject to rate filing. Successfully defended the insurers at trial, obtaining a complete defense verdict, which verdict was upheld on appeal. Parenthetically, the opinion of the appellate court was the first one to be published on the issues presented in the case and served to positively impact the entire rental car and associated insurance industries.
Successfully defended a class action involving allegations regarding improper automobile insurance rates by filing a demurrer that was sustained without leave to amend at the trial court level, a decision that was unsuccessfully appealed. The published opinion in this case is frequently cited to support an insurer’s defense of litigation challenging the viability of premiums charged.
Successfully defended a large insurance company sued for approximately $600 million because its distribution channel (brokers) was allegedly comprised of de-facto agents. After lengthy litigation, the plaintiffs’ attempt to certify the class was defeated and the class representative was declared “inadequate” and removed. Plaintiffs then voluntarily dismissed the case. Subsequently, defended 10 other similar class actions.
Represented mobile home parks in a case of first impression involving the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) in which tens of millions of dollars were at stake. Plaintiffs were two mobile home tenants, who alleged that our clients unlawfully offered “rental rate reductions” in violation of the MRL and, as a result, they had been overcharged for rent in violation of the San Mateo Mobilehome Rent Control Ordinance. Based upon a detailed legislative history analysis, defeated class certification on five of the six causes of action pled, which led to a highly favorable resolution for our clients.
Represented the class (with a well-known artist as its lead plaintiff) in litigation against Rhapsody International, Inc., alleging that the digital music service knowingly and unlawfully reproduced and distributed copyrighted compositions without obtaining mechanical licenses. The class action garnered extensive media coverage and resulted in a multi-million-dollar settlement benefiting artists worldwide.
Represented a leading automobile manufacturer in a milestone products liability case establishing that the principles of comparative fault apply to products liability claims.
Successfully defended a pharmaceutical company and its directors and officers in an SEC investigation and federal class action securities case brought by shareholders in the wake of disappointing results of a Phase III clinical trial for the company’s leading drug candidate. Obtained a favorable settlement of the case, paid entirely from insurance proceeds with no financial contribution from any defendant. The SEC investigation was also resolved without enforcement activity.
Successfully defended a national insurance brokerage in a class action alleging that the recording of customer telephone calls without proper disclosures was a violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The brokerage faced billions of dollars in damages in light of applicable statutory damages of $5,000 per call after a total of approximately 600,000 were allegedly made. Case was dismissed based upon novel argument establishing that the legislative intent of the TCPA was to protect against “industrial espionage.”
Obtained a complete dismissal without prejudice in a putative class action lawsuit brought under the TCPA against an agency specializing in the placement of automobile and home insurance. The plaintiff alleged that he received a marketing call from the agency despite having placed his number on a do-not-call registry, yet the agency was adamant that it did not make the call, nor did it authorize any third party to do so. Ultimately, the case was voluntarily dismissed in the wake of a Local Rule 7-3 meet and confer conference, during which the filing of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim was threatened.
Successfully defended insurance company facing billions of dollars in exposure in a class action alleging multiple violations of the TCPA. Our client purportedly sent out millions of unsolicited text messages to potential customers without the requisite express written consent from recipients as required by the TCPA, which carried a minimum penalty of between $500 and $1,500 per text message. Settled case on a single plaintiff basis for less than $50,000.
Successfully defended a class action brought by multiple plaintiffs against a nationwide retailer of consumer electronics for alleged violations of the California Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA). The CLRA claim—based upon allegations that the retailer violated the law by printing “Not Redeemable for Cash” on the back of its gift cards—was deemed to be without merit and class certification was thereafter defeated on multiple grounds.
A prominent insurance brokerage was held liable for violating California’s wage and hour overtime laws, among other things, and faced a $42 million judgment. Successfully argued for a reduction of that judgment to $1.2 million on the basis of a conflict in federal and state employment laws (and the misapplication of those laws by the plaintiffs’ lawyers), which reduction was upheld on appeal by the Ninth Circuit.
Successfully defended a metal supply company facing a putative wage and hour class action brought by a former employee. Compelled the plaintiff to accept mediation, during which it was demonstrated that, should the case go to trial, it would likely be limited in scope to meal and rest breaks (with no liability on the other claims alleged). Consequently, the matter was settled for pennies on the dollar, which settlement encompassed 265 current and former employees.