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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.

Our Attorneys

Arlene Fickler

Arlene Fickler

215-751-2332

Philadelphia, PA

afickler@schnader.com

 215-751-2332 Philadelphia, PA
Stephen A. Fogdall

Stephen A. Fogdall

215-751-2581

Philadelphia, PA

sfogdall@schnader.com

 215-751-2581 Philadelphia, PA
Arleigh P. Helfer

Arleigh P. Helfer

215-751-2430

Philadelphia, PA

ahelfer@schnader.com

 215-751-2430 Philadelphia, PA
Alice Sacks Johnston

Alice Sacks Johnston

412-577-5121

Pittsburgh, PA

ajohnston@schnader.com

 412-577-5121 Pittsburgh, PA
Theresa E. Loscalzo

Theresa E. Loscalzo

215-751-2254

Philadelphia, PA

tloscalzo@schnader.com

 215-751-2254 Philadelphia, PA
Ira Neil Richards

Ira Neil Richards

215-751-2503

Philadelphia, PA

irichards@schnader.com

 215-751-2503 Philadelphia, PA
Lisa J. Rodriguez

Lisa J. Rodriguez

856-482-5741

Cherry Hill, NJ

ljrodriguez@schnader.com

 856-482-5741 Cherry Hill, NJ
Carl J. Schaerf

Carl J. Schaerf

212-973-8005

New York, NY

cschaerf@schnader.com

 212-973-8005 New York, NY
Jonathan B. Skowron

Jonathan B. Skowron

412-577-5113

Pittsburgh, PA

jskowron@schnader.com

 412-577-5113 Pittsburgh, PA
David Smith

David Smith

215-751-2190

Philadelphia, PA

dsmith@schnader.com

 215-751-2190 Philadelphia, PA
John R. Timmer

John R. Timmer

215-751-2451

Philadelphia, PA

jtimmer@schnader.com

 215-751-2451 Philadelphia, PA
Ralph G. Wellington

Ralph G. Wellington

215-751-2488

Philadelphia, PA

rwellington@schnader.com

 215-751-2488 Philadelphia, PA
Keith E. Whitson

Keith E. Whitson

412-577-5220

Pittsburgh, PA

kwhitson@schnader.com

 412-577-5220 Pittsburgh, PA

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The Higher Calling Of The Law Requires...

Inclusion. When Pennsylvania Attorney General William Schnader left politics and sought to return to private practice in Philadelphia, he discovered that no major Philadelphia law firms would hire his protégé, Bernard Segal, a Jewish attorney. In response, in 1935, William Schnader, Bernard Segal and Francis Lewis formed a new law firm, Schnader & Lewis -- the first religiously integrated law firm in Philadelphia.

Innovation. Because Schnader was religiously integrated from its founding, many local clients in the Philadelphia area would not retain the firm in the 1930s and 1940s. Accordingly, the firm sought to represent larger, national companies.

Vision. Firm founder William Schnader was president of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, which drafted and developed the Uniform Commercial Code. He successfully campaigned for the Code's adoption in 49 states.

The pursuit of freedom. At the request of President Truman, firm founder Earl Harrison, as Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, toured displaced persons camps at the end of World War II and recommended to the President that displaced persons in Europe be permitted to resettle in Palestine. His report was a major factor that led to American support for the establishment of Israel.

The pursuit of justice. Firm founder Earl Harrison testified on behalf of an African-American student denied entry to the University of Texas School of Law because of his race. The case challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine, as applied to state law schools and laid the foundation for Brown v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court eventually overturned the lower courts' decisions and ordered the University of Texas to admit qualified black applicants.

Courage. Firm founder Bernard Segal convinced the Philadelphia bar to defend nine accused Communists pro bono. The defendants were convicted but their cases were thrown out on appeal. As a result, the Justice Department abandoned Smith Act prosecutions across the country.

The pursuit of justice. When George Wallace threatened to block integration of the University of Alabama, Schnader’s Bernard Segal drafted a statement in opposition. He and Jerome Shestack called lawyers all over the country requesting their support. The statement was published in the Birmingham News with 53 prominent lawyer signatories and provided support for President Kennedy's Executive Order federalizing the Alabama National Guard.

The pursuit of justice. In the wake of George Wallace's efforts to impede the integration of the University of Alabama, and at the urging of Schnader’s Bernard Segal, President Kennedy convened 244 lawyers at the White House to ask them to move the battle for civil rights and racial equality to the courts. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was born and Jerome Shestack became its full-time executive director while continuing to practice at Schnader.

Inclusion. Firm founder Bernard Segal was chair of the ABA’s Committee on the Federal Judiciary. He advocated the appointment of federal judges of all genders and races.

Inclusion. Firm founder Bernard Segal was the first Jewish person to serve as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He encouraged the bar into public service and expanded its racial horizons.

Inclusion. Schnader was one of the first major Philadelphia firms to hire a female attorney.

Diversity. Schnader was a founding member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, which aims to increase the number of diverse attorneys in-house and in private practice.

Inclusion. The firm appointed Albert Dandridge as Chief Diversity Officer and charged him with increasing and developing our bench of diverse attorneys.

Service. The firm adopted Caton Village (now closed), a halfway house for women in Philadelphia, where we provided free legal clinics and social and educational activities for its residents.

Service. Schnader lawyers regularly represent undocumented children who were abused or abandoned by their parents. We help these children obtain guardians, stop removal proceedings, and begin the path to citizenship.

Service. As U.S. veterans waited an average of four years for a ruling on the denial of their disability benefits, Schnader attorneys led a campaign advocating for a solution to address the backlog.

The pursuit of justice. Schnader attorneys represented Guantanamo Bay detainees, advocating for fair treatment and due process against a byzantine legal landscape.

Service. With a nonprofit partner, Schnader attorneys and staff designed and taught a pilot life skills seminar for young adults aging out of the foster care system. The program included lessons on securing vital documents, opening a bank account, looking for jobs and going to an interview.

Service. Schnader attorneys help middle school students in Pittsburgh set up a youth court, prepare for mock trials and draft a bill of rights for their school. The students learn about Constitutional law, advocacy and restorative justice from participating in these programs.

Service. Bernard Segal, a founder of the firm, believed that Schnader's hallmark is its "dedication to the higher calling of the law," which he defined as "the lawyer's obligation to assume an active role in the pursuit of a just and ordered society, in helping to solve the emerging problems of social, economic and political importance, and to serve the public as his or her client, as she or he would serve a full-paying client."