CCAF wins in Ninth Circuit
The Center for Class Action Fairness announced today its victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit objecting to a valueless class action settlement.
Headset Settlement That Paid Lawyers, Not Clients, Is Rejected
The decision provides yet more evidence that the real problem with these settlements lies with the judges who approve them. Class-action lawyers are peddling absolution to their targets: In exchange for a settlement that includes lucrative fees, they can obtain a court decree ending the possibility of any further litigation over the same claims.
Court Vacates Predatory Bluetooth Headset Deal
The objectors then appealed to the 9th Circuit, which reversed and vacated the settlement."We agree that the disparity between the value of the class recovery and class counsel's compensation raises at least an inference of unfairness, and that the current record does not adequately dispel the possibility that class counsel bargained away a benefit to the class in exchange for their own interests," Judge Michael Daly Hawkins wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel sitting in Pasadena.
9th Circ. Chucks Bluetooth Deal Due To High Atty Fees
"We got a very good ruling about the importance of these issues," Frank said. "There are a lot of settlements structured like this, and we got a very firm ruling from the Ninth Circuit that this is a problem."
Opening brief filed in appeal of Volkswagen class action settlement approval
It's still unclear to me why the Third Circuit waited a year before our briefs were due from our appeal.
CCAF objection in Blessing v. Sirius XM Radio
The objection, filed in the Southern District of New York on behalf of a class member, underscores that the proposed Sirius XM Radio settlement would provide valueless injunctive relief to the class but $13 million to class attorneys.
June 20 was a busy day
The growth of the Center for Class Action Fairness can be shown just by the breadth of its activities on Monday, June 20.
Baby products objection
As discussed at Point of Law, CCAF has filed an objection to the Babies "R" Us settlement in McDonough v. Toys "R" Us, Inc., No. 06-cv-242 (E.D. Pa.).
AOL cy pres Ninth Circuit appeal oral argument set
I'll be arguing the AOL cy pres case June 7 in Pasadena. (My record in Ninth Circuit oral arguments to date: 2-0, with one pending.) Come watch if you're interested in cy pres issues. If you're not interested in cy pres, but are interested in trademarks and pornography (and who isn't?), they're also arguing Roxbury Entertainment v. Penthouse Media ("The content of the film is primarily graphic sex scenes; however, the 'story line' to the extent there is one, concerns…
Illegal coupon settlement in Nevada
We are mystified how the plaintiffs intend to justify the settlement; perhaps they will contend that the $10 discount "certificates" issued to the class are not coupons. The attorneys and class representatives are asking for $1.46 million without even an attempt to predict the redemption rate of these certificates.