Seyfarth Synopsis: In today’s video blog, Jerry Maatman discusses how, in 2021, the aggregate monetary value of workplace class action settlements exploded to an all-time high, as plaintiffs’ lawyers and government enforcement agencies monetarized their claims at the highest values we have ever tracked. Many employers and commentators alike expected the pandemic to depress the size and pace of settlements.

Continue Reading 5 Key Trends In Workplace Class Action Litigation For 2021: Trend #1 Record Settlements Video

Seyfarth Synopsis: In our continuing video blog series on the finding of our 2021 Workplace Class Action Litigation Report, somewhat unexpectedly, the aggregate monetary value of workplace class action settlements increased in 2020, despite the global pandemic and its impacts on the economy and business operations. In the video below, Jerry Maatman shares his observations on the settlements across all
Continue Reading 5 Top Workplace Class Action Trends In 2021: Trend #3 Class Action Settlement Trends Video

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Jennifer A. Riley, and Alex Oxyer

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a recent ruling out of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Court assessed a petition for attorney’s fees filed in conjunction with the settlement of a 43-year old sex discrimination class action. After entering into the largest discrimination settlement in United
Continue Reading Petition For Additional Attorneys’ Fees Denied By D.C. Court In Largest Employment Discrimination Class Action Settlement In U.S. History

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Jennifer A. Riley, and Alex S. Oxyer

Seyfarth Synopsis: “Objector blackmail” occurs in the class settlement approval process when a few class members object to a proposed settlement and, after the district court has overruled their objections, pursue appeals with the goal of obtaining “side” settlement payments to dismiss the appeal.  In
Continue Reading The Seventh Circuit Provides District Courts Ammunition To Deal With “Objector Blackmail” In Proposed Class Settlements

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Alex W. Karasik

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a class action asserting claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and statutory fraud in regards to the sale of general-use, pre-paid gift cards, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the final approval of a settlement agreement whereby the attorneys’ fees and costs totaled $1.95 million, while the class members
Continue Reading Class Action Cash-In: 7th Circuit Allows Attorneys’ Fees To Exceed Plaintiffs’ Payout

By Chris DeGroff and Laura Maechtlen

Earlier this year, we blogged about the EEOC’s aggressive attack on CVS Pharmacy Inc.’s standard release agreement which contained terms more expansive in favor of employees than the EEOC’s own interpretive guidance, and agreements held enforceable by in key court decisions. The EEOC v. CVS case was eventually dismissed on procedural grounds because the
Continue Reading Separation Agreement Attack Redux – EEOC Takes Another Swing At Employer’s Standard Release Language, And Loses On Key Claims

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

On October 31, 2014, in Oliver v. Orleans Parish Sch. Bd., No. 2014-C-0329 (La. Oct. 31, 2014), the Supreme Court of Louisiana reversed a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal decision and dismissed a class action lawsuit brought by Plaintiffs, 7,600 former teachers and permanent school district employees who were terminated following Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
Continue Reading “Exceptional” Class Action Dismissed By Supreme Court Of Louisiana

By Timothy F. Haley

That’s not a typo! In a decision issued on August 8, 2014, Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California rejected the parties’ $324.5 million proposed class action settlement as inadequate and denied the Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval in In Re High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, 11-CV-0250, 2014 U.S. Dist.
Continue Reading Court Refused To Approve $324.5 Million Settlement In Workplace Antitrust Class Action

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., and Alexis P. Robertson

On June 20, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a district court’s dismissal of a request by the NFL Players’ Association and several NFL players (collectively, the “Association”) to set aside and reopen an earlier Stipulation and Settlement Agreement with the National Football League (“NFL”).
Continue Reading Eighth Circuit Allows NFL Players To “End Run” Class Action Settlement

By Laura J. Maechtlen and Brian Wong

On May 20, 2014, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) announced the impending settlement of its high-profile systemic action against the Law School Admission Council, Inc. (“LSAC”). Our ongoing coverage of this case, DFEH v. Law School Admission Council, Inc., No. 12-CV-1830, can be found here and here.
Continue Reading The California DFEH Secures A Multimillion Dollar Settlement In Its High-Profile Systemic Action Against The Law School Admission Council