Our Class Action Practice Group has been on the cutting edge of issues relating to multiparty and multidistrict cases and taken lead roles in matters involving a wide array of claims, such as product liability, environmental, consumer fraud, aviation, securities fraud, antitrust, employment, financial services, and insurance.
Our team’s perspectives allow us to see issues from all sides, giving our clients a strategic advantage before, during, and after trial.
An effective defense against a class action lawsuit requires early strategic evaluation of the claims and defenses to minimize the client’s exposure to risk. Our team has repeatedly and successfully litigated the propriety of class certification and resolved class actions early in the litigation, saving our clients time and money.
In addition to a strong defense team, we have an exceptional group of attorneys experienced in pursuing class action claims on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys understand the strategic choices plaintiffs’ counsel make in important situations. We evaluate potential opportunities to maximize recovery and counsel clients on whether they should opt out of the class and file a separate action or remain part of the class and, if there is a settlement or recovery, how to respond.
In class actions, clients rely on Schnader’s extensive trial experience, as well as our excellent brief writing and negotiation skills. Ever mindful of our client’s business objectives and resources, we prepare every case with the goal of winning at trial. Our experience on both sides of the class action bar enables us to make smarter decisions and advocate most effectively on behalf of all of our clients.
Specific examples of class action cases include the following:
- Schnader represented three railroads in class actions filed on behalf of residents and businesses in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The plaintiffs allegedly suffered economic loss after a train passing over a bridge derailed and released vinyl chloride vapor into the atmosphere. After removal to federal district court, Schnader was successful in defeating motions for class certification. Schnader then worked with co-counsel to defend and mediate the individual cases.
- Schnader served as counsel to a defendant in a class action brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The case was ultimately settled on an individual basis after expert discovery.
- Schnader represented the defendant in Bloodworth v. TBF Financial, Inc., a class action complaint asserting that defendant’s efforts to collect credit card debt did not comply with the requirements of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. We filed a motion to dismiss. Before the motion was decided, the parties attended a scheduled mediation at which the case settled for a nominal amount.
- Schnader serves as class counsel for individuals incarcerated presently or in the future at Allegheny County Jail and who have a serious mental health condition. The litigation alleges that Allegheny County fails to provide constitutionally adequate mental health care and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and other constitutional and statutory requirements.
- Schnader represented a class of pilots in the lawsuit against their union, arising from American Airline’s 2001 acquisition of TWA. The pilots alleged that the union breached its duty of fair representation in connection with the transaction, resulting in unfair seniority integration. After a six-week jury trial in federal court, Schnader lawyers obtained a jury verdict against the union on liability and causation and ultimately a substantial class-wide settlement.
- Schnader attorneys served as co-lead counsel in multidistrict antitrust litigation alleging price fixing and international market allocation in the pressure-sensitive label stock industry. Schnader attorneys coordinated discovery from multiple parties, involving millions of pages of documents and worked closely with economists to develop models to assess damages arising from the alleged conduct. As a result of these efforts, our clients obtained settlement payments representing a substantial portion of their potential damages.
- Schnader attorneys served as liaison counsel to the lead plaintiff in a securities class action against Healthcare Services Corp., which settled class-wide for $16.8 million.
- Schnader represents a medical records provider in class action lawsuits challenging its pricing for medical records.
- Schnader attorneys represented Pennsylvania car owners in class actions against auto insurers alleging that the insurers failed to provide drivers with a mandatory discount for antitheft devices. These cases all resulted in settlements with the defendants.
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